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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Do I use the plural for the verb?

We're having a discussion in the office regarding a sentence in one or our policy documents.

Which of the following is correct?

There needs to be agreed priorities for query resolution.

or




There need to be agreed priorities for query resolution.

Thanks

Cassandra
  

Top answer

Cassandra: According to the rules, the word "there" only introduces the sentence and should be ignored in analysis. So we have: need/needs to be agreed priorities for query resolution. Now let's put that sentence into regular order and we get: Agreed priorities for query resolution NEED to be.

— Anonymous

  • Cassandra: According to the rules, the word "there" only introduces the sentence and should be ignored in analysis.
  • So we have: need/needs to be agreed priorities for query resolution.
  • Now let's put that sentence into regular order and we get: Agreed priorities for query resolution NEED to be.
  • ") In this sentence, "to be" is not a linking verb.
  • " Therefore, the rules would favor: There need to be ....
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1 Answers
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Cassandra: According to the rules, the word "there" only introduces the sentence and should be ignored in analysis. So we have: need/needs to be agreed priorities for query resolution. Now let's put that sentence into regular order and we get: Agreed priorities for query resolution NEED to be. (NEED agrees with the subject "PRIORITIES.") In this sentence, "to be" is not a linking verb. It mean
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