Regarding the use of third-person singular here.

Question

Sentence: Israel successfully intercepted rocket attacks in the last 5-7 days without a MIM-104 Patriot like missile shield prove that its Iron Dome is superior to other defense systems.Question: Does the word "prove" in the sentence need to be pluralized with "s" at its end?Thanks

Canadian45 · Accepted Answer

The sentence is not correct. Did you copy it accurately?

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Israel's successfully intercepted rocket attacks in the last 5-7 days without a MIM-104 Patriot (hyphen here) like missile shield prove that its Iron Dome is superior to other defense systems.

Yes, the subject is the plural 'attacks'.

___________________________

But the sentence is poorly worded. It suggests that the attacks belong to Israel, ie that Israel is firing the rocket attacks.
This is better.
Israel's successfully interception of rocket attacks in the last 5-7 days, without a MIM-104 Patriot-like missile shield, proves that its Iron Dome is superior to other defense systems.

Clive

Canadian45 · Answer

Clive.....Israel's successful interception of rocket attacks in the last 5-7 days, without a MIM-104 Patriot-like missile shield, proves that its Iron Dome is superior to other defense systems.

Anonymous · Answer

CliveHi, Israel's successfully intercepted rocket attacks in the last 5-7 days without a MIM-104 Patriot (hyphen here) like missile shield prove that its Iron Dome is superior to other defense systems.Yes, the subject is the plural 'attacks'._________________________ But the sentence is poorly worded. It suggests that the attacks belong to Israel, ie that Israel is firing the rocket attacks.This is better.Israel's successfully interception of rocket attacks in the last 5-7 days, without a MIM-104 Patriot-like missile shield, proves that its Iron Dome is superior to other defense systems.Clive

Thanks for the reply, Clive. When the subject "attacks" is in plural, should not the singular form "prove" be used there?

Anonymous · Answer

canadian45Did you copy it accurately?

Since you know it has been "copied", you should know from where that has been done, so why do not you go there and check for yourself?

Fivejedjon · Answer

The interception of rocket attacks in the last 5-7 days, without a MIM-104 Patriot- like missile shield, proves that ...

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymous... "attacks" is in plural, should not the singular form "prove" ...

You are confusing noun singulars and plurals with verb singulars and plurals.

Noun:
Singular: attack Plural: attacks
Verb:
Singular: proves Plural: prove

CJ

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Another suggestion:
The fact that Israel successfully intercepted rocket attacks in the last 5-7 days without a MIM-104 Patriot like missile shield proves that its Iron Dome is superior to other defense systems.

It just proves that the original sentence was incorrectly quoted (or written).

Anonymous · Answer

CalifJim Anonymous... "attacks" is in plural, should not the singular form "prove" ...You are confusing noun singulars and plurals with verb singulars and plurals.Noun:Singular: attack Plural: attacksVerb:Singular: proves Plural: proveCJ

Flown over my head. LOL. **** confusing language this is. Do natives speakers learn to make this distinction easily...?

Just saw in my dictionary, "attack" is listed as both verb and noun in it. Then how should we know what a word is, a verb or a noun, in the above situation and in other situations?

Does what is plural in noun, like attacks in this case, become singular in verb automatically?

Need some serious, lucid explanation. Had no idea, this small question will create so much doubt in my mind. I feel like I have learned nothing so far.

Thanks

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousDoes what is plural in noun, like attacks in this case, become singular in verb automatically?

It may seem that way, yes.

What part of this don't you understand?

Noun:
Singular: attack Plural: attacks
Verb:
Singular: proves Plural: prove

Note: The addition of "s" to a noun makes it plural.

Note: The addition of "s" to a verb makes it singular (but only in the third person of the present tense).

____________

attack, noun

There was an attack on the city last night. (singular)

There have been many attacks on the city this week. (plural)

attack, verb

The army attacks the city every day. (one army, attacks, singular)

Several airplanes attack the city every day. (more than one airplane, attack, plural)

____________

The result of this is that in the third person of the present tense, 90% of the time there is exactly one "s" ending: on the subject noun or on the verb.

The [president] [knows] the answer. Singular. The "s" is on the verb.

The [facts] [prove] that she is correct. Plural. The "s" is on the subject noun.

[Edward] [sees] a movie every week. Singular. The "s" is on the verb.

His [parents] always [stay] at home. Plural. The "s" is on the subject noun.

Her [husband] [helps] the children with their homework. Singular. The "s" is on the verb.

Her [cousins] usually [invite] her to visit on the holidays. Plural. The "s" is on the subject noun.

CJ

Regarding the use of third-person singular here.

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