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Liveinjapan Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Lots has been going on...

Lots has been going on this week.

Hi,
It seems that people don't say 'lots have been going on...', but why?
The word 'lots' is considered one unit, thus followed by a singular verb?
Thanks.
  

Top answer

My guess is that what you hear is what people are thinking in, "A lot has been going on", but actually saying, "lot's been going on".

— Philip

  • My guess is that what you hear is what people are thinking in, "A lot has been going on", but actually saying, "lot's been going on".
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5 Answers
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My guess is that what you hear is what people are thinking in, "A lot has been going on", but actually saying, "lot's been going on".
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The word 'lots', or the words, 'a lot', are over worked. A better way to say this is: 'many things have happened'.
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LiveinjapanLots has been going on this week.

Hi,
It seems that people don't say 'lots have been going on...', but why?
The word 'lots' is considered one unit, thus followed by a singular verb?
Here is my two cents, LiJ.

First, look at definition 7 here -- click on "1 lot (noun)":
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Amy's answer above is right on the money.
Note that the grammar of a lot and lots is not much different from that of all.

All of the butter is gone.
All of the people are gone.
All is gone.
All are gone.

Your quoted sentence strikes me as

Lots of stuff has been going on this week,

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What have been said remind me that 'lots of' is used for both countable and uncoutable nouns.

Understand!!
Thank you all.
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