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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

help or helps

Should it be help or helps in this sentence?

Strong bones in children helps/help prevent osteoporosis.

Thanks!
  

Top answer

Anonymous Should it be help or helps in this sentence? it is not the individual bones that prevent osteoporosis, but the existence of all of them in a strong condition; yet using the plural 'bones' makes one attempt to use the plural verb. As a result, neither verb sounds quite right, and if it were my sentence, I would certainly recast it: A strong skeleton in children helps prevent osteoporosis.

— Mister Micawber

  • Anonymous Should it be help or helps in this sentence?
  • it is not the individual bones that prevent osteoporosis, but the existence of all of them in a strong condition; yet using the plural 'bones' makes one attempt to use the plural verb.
  • As a result, neither verb sounds quite right, and if it were my sentence, I would certainly recast it: A strong skeleton in children helps prevent osteoporosis.
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8 Answers
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AnonymousShould it be help or helps in this sentence?
it is not the individual bones that prevent osteoporosis, but the existence of all of them in a strong condition; yet using the plural 'bones' makes one attempt to use the plural verb. As a result, neither verb sounds quite right, and if it were my sentence, I would certainly recast it:

A stron
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Mister Micawber AnonymousShould it be help or helps in this sentence?it is not the individual bones that prevent osteoporosis, but the existence of all of them in a strong condition; yet using the plural 'bones' makes one attempt to use the plural verb. As a result, neither verb sounds quite right, and if it were my sentence, I would certainly recast it:A strong skeleton
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Mister MicawberYes, that's what I mean.
Thanks teacher. So was your "yes" regarding all three of my questions?

Also, I am just wondering can 'bone' be used as an uncountable noun in that sentence?

As in "strong bone in children helps ...."?

I don't think it can be used as an uncountable noun, but please confirm!
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AnonymousSo was your "yes" regarding all three of my questions?
Yes.
Anonymous I am just wondering can 'bone' be used as an uncountable noun in that sentence?As in "strong bone in children helps ...."?
It could be, yes.
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Mister Micawber AnonymousSo was your "yes" regarding all three of my questions?Yes.Anonymous I am just wondering can 'bone' be used as an uncountable noun in that sentence?As in "strong bone in children helps ...."?It could be, yes.
Great. Thanks a lot teacher!

So if 'bone' is used as a uncountable noun, the article 'a' can't be used before 'strong' a
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Mister MicawberRight.
Great. Thank you very much teacher.
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