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Antonija Posted 16 years ago
Vocabulary

Improve fuel economy

Hello,
can you please tell me which of the bolded expressions is the best in this context:

The new generation of engine oils, which improve fuel economy/save on fuel/use less fuel and are environment-friendly, are multiseasonal and multigrade oils.

Another question, should I use third person singular ending -s in verbs improve/saveuse'' and is for to be? or What's the subject here, generation or oils?
  

Top answer

The new generation of engine oils, which help reduce fuel consumption, are environment-friendly, multigrade and can be used (in all seasons)/(year-around). ( are environment-friendly, all-seasons and multigrade). I think the subject here is the new generation but I treat it the same way as I would any other collective noun which can take either a singular or plural verb.

  • The new generation of engine oils, which help reduce fuel consumption, are environment-friendly, multigrade and can be used (in all seasons)/(year-around).
  • ( are environment-friendly, all-seasons and multigrade).
  • I think the subject here is the new generation but I treat it the same way as I would any other collective noun which can take either a singular or plural verb.
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9 Answers
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The new generation of engine oils, which help reduce fuel consumption, are environment-friendly, multigrade and can be used (in all seasons)/(year-around). (are environment-friendly, all-seasons and multigrade).

I think the subject here is the new generation but I treat it the same way as I would any other collective noun which can take either a singular or plural v
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The new generation of engine oils, which improve fuel economy and are environmentally friendly, are multiseasonal and multigrade oils.

Another question, should I use third person singular ending -s in verbs improve/saveuse and is for to be''? or What's the subject here, generation or oils?-- Consider it 'oils'; the singular sounds terrible.
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Thank you both.
You wouldn't use hyphens Mr Micawber?
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Can't we say 'the new generation of the engine oil...'? Or oils?
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Since we are talking of several grades and types, the plural is much better here.
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Hyphens are awkward when there is a better solution. 'Environmentally friendly' is a common collocation nowadays, so no need to jury-rig the hyphenated adjective.
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We could have used 'environment friendly', couldn't we?
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That would have to be hyphenated and would still be an awkward subtitute for the accepted adverb.

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