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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

How can I write?

Can I write "the strong survives" with an"s" when I only mean a singular person? Thanks!

Best,
Peter
  

Top answer

Hi Peter No, that's not going to work. The noun may refer to one person or it may refer to a group. But, in either case, you have to treat it as singular and the verb does not have the 's' - The strong survive Dave

— Dave_anon

  • Hi Peter No, that's not going to work.
  • The noun may refer to one person or it may refer to a group.
  • But, in either case, you have to treat it as singular and the verb does not have the 's' - The strong survive Dave
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3 Answers
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Hi Peter

No, that's not going to work. The noun may refer to one person or it may refer to a group. But, in either case, you have to treat it as singular and the verb does not have the 's'

- The strong survive

Dave
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dave_anonyou have to treat it as singular and the verb does not have the 's'
When an adjective follows the definite article in this way, it almost always taken to represent a plural noun.
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Hi

Yes, you're right. The singular takes the 's' and the plural doesn't. My mistake:

- Only the strong man survives

- Only the strong survive

Dave
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