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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Does the Verb Agree with the Subject here?

Hi guys

Which is correct:

"There are lots of literature and audio tapes on the subject."

I thought it should be "is" rather than "are", for "literature" may be plural, it acts as a collective noun (I think?). And one uses singular verbs to agree with collective nouns, right? If I'm wrong, can you tell me whether a singular or plural verb is required and why?
  

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4 Answers
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Personally, I'd swap them around. "There are lots of audio tapes and [other] literature on the subject."
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Okay, thanks. But as the sentence stands, does the verb "are" agree with "literature"?
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<<<<.....lots of literature and audio tapes>

The fact that we have a compound noun here that it should be a plural, "were". not "is". As it was suggested to you, it would be better if "tapes" were put before literature because it made the verb agreement more apparent.
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AnonymousHi guys

Which is correct:
"There are lots of literature and audio tapes on the subject."

I thought it should be "is" rather than "are", for "literature" may be plural, it acts as a collective noun (I think?). And one uses singular verbs to agree with collective nouns, right? If I'm wrong, can you tell me whether a singular or plural verb is
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