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Anonymous Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Plural or singular

Hello,
Is this sentence correct? Thank you for responding.
The lack of time and enthusiasm are the two main obstacles.
  

Top answer

Anonymous The lack of time and enthusiasm are the two main obstacles.

— Canadian45

  • Anonymous The lack of time and enthusiasm are the two main obstacles.
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8 Answers
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AnonymousThe lack of time and enthusiasm are the two main obstacles. Emotion: yes
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AnonymousIs this sentence correct?
Technically, no, because the subject is singular.

The lack of time and enthusiasm is the main obstacle. (The main obstacle is the lack of time and enthusiasm.)

vs.

The lack of time and the lack of enthusiasm are
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Aspara GusAnonymousIs this sentence correct?Technically, no, because the subject is singular. I understand where you are coming from, but I disagree with your conclusion. One doesn't need to repeat "lack". As is, it's quite clear that two things are lacking.

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canadian45but I disagree with your conclusion. One doesn't need to repeat "lack".
I suppose I gave the wrong idea. My conclusion isn’t to repeat the word lack; my second example was meant only to show that a compound subject is needed to use a plural verb. Besides, it’s the lack of time and enthusiasm that is the obstacle, not time and enthusiasm
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I'm 100% with Canadian in this. It's clearly two things. A lack of A and a lack of B. We don't need to repeat the words to understand they are intended.
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BarbaraPAIt's clearly two things.
But one subject. The second lack is not syntactically implied, i.e., we have a compound object, not a compound subject.

I admit that the original is natural enough, but I’m more focused on the grammar, since the OP asked if the sentence was correct.
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It is completely implied. There are two implied subjects.
We can agree to disagree, but you will not convince me a singular verb is the better choice, and certainly won't convince me it's the "correct" choice.
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BarbaraPAThe second subject is implied.
In a purely semantic analysis, yes, which is certainly a legitimate approach. However, when I think "correct", I naturally think "grammar", and from a purely syntactic point of view, the sole subject is the lack (of time and enthusiasm).

You go your way, and I’ll go mine.
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