Countable / Uncountable / Singular / Plural

Question

Hi there, I'm a tad confused over the following 2 scenarios:

Scenario 1
Glory / air / water - these are uncountable objects, hence we use a singular verb with it, i.e., the water is dirty. But what happens when we quantify the objects, i.e., 50 seconds of glory, 10 millimeters (ml) of air, etc. Its now plural ? So we will say "10 millimeters of air ARE collected" ?

Scenario 2
A handful of insert object - do we look at "a handful of" or the "object" to decide if its singular or plural? A handful of sand - singular but what about a handful of stalls ?

Thanks a lot.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

capri2812But what happens when we quantify the objects, i.e., 50 seconds of glory, 10 millimeters (ml) of air, etc. Its now plural ? So we will say "10 millimeters of air ARE collected" ?

Yes, if you wish to consider the quantity as a number of units. Many speakers consider the quantity as a single amount and use the singular verb.

capri2812A handful of insert object - do we look at "a handful of" or the "object" to decide if its singular or plural? A handful of sand - singular but what about a handful of stalls ?

One handful of sand/strawberries is enough.
Two handfuls of sand/strawberries is/are enough (depending on whether you consider 'two handfuls' to be plural units or a single amount).

Countable / Uncountable / Singular / Plural

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