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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Can subjective complements(nouns) disagree with the subjects in their numbers?
Hi! This is the first time that I post a question on this site.
We are taught that subjects and noun subjective complements have to agree
with each other in their numbers. But I wonder what we should do if the
complements contain uncountable nouns like a following case.
Various pieces of information are important properties of the company.
Various pieces of information are an important property of the company.
Which is, or the both are correct?
Various information is an important property of the company.
Various information is important properties of the company.
Which is, or the both are correct?
Thanks in advance.
We are taught that subjects and noun subjective complements have to agree
with each other in their numbers. But I wonder what we should do if the
complements contain uncountable nouns like a following case.
Various pieces of information are important properties of the company.
Various pieces of information are an important property of the company.
Which is, or the both are correct?
Various information is an important property of the company.
Various information is important properties of the company.
Which is, or the both are correct?
Thanks in advance.
Top answer
Anonymous Various pieces of information are important properties of the company. Various pieces of information are an important property of the company. I would accept either one.
- Anonymous Various pieces of information are important properties of the company.
- Various pieces of information are an important property of the company.
- I would accept either one.
- Either the pieces of information are being conceptualized as separate units (as in the first example), or the pieces of information are being conceptualized as one collective unit.
- various doesn't go with uncountable nouns, so neither of the other two examples is correct.
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2 Answers
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AnonymousVarious pieces of information are important properties of the company.I would accept either one. Either the pieces of information are being conceptualized as separate units (as in the first example), or the pieces of information are being conceptualized as one col
Various pieces of information are an important property of the company.
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In the case of uncountable nouns American English and British English often differ in their rules.
Various pieces of information are an important property of the company. ( I would use the collective noun "property," even if there is a plural subject: Real estat
Please register - it's free and then your postings will not have to be moderated.
In the case of uncountable nouns American English and British English often differ in their rules.
Various pieces of information are an important property of the company. ( I would use the collective noun "property," even if there is a plural subject: Real estat
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