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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Noun-verb agreement, is/are

What is the right form:

"A good example is cars that run on diesel"

"A good example are cars that run in diesel"

I think I was taught that the second would be correct, because when you turn the sentence around you get "Cars that run on diesel are a good example", but now I have my doubts.

Thanks
  

Top answer

Don't turn the sentence around. The subject ('example') is singular, so the verb is singular ('is'). This is the correct grammar.

— Mister Micawber

  • Don't turn the sentence around.
  • The subject ('example') is singular, so the verb is singular ('is').
  • This is the correct grammar.
  • If the notional discord bothers you (as it does me), then recast the sentence: A good example is a car that runs on diesel A good example is cars running on diesel Good examples are cars that run on diesel
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1 Answers
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Don't turn the sentence around. The subject ('example') is singular, so the verb is singular ('is'). This is the correct grammar.

If the notional discord bothers you (as it does me), then recast the sentence:

A good example is a car that runs on diesel
A good example is cars running on diesel
Good examples are cars that run on diesel
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