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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
1)more than 10000 kilometers separates india from europe
(why not ,more than 10000 kilometers separate india from europe)
2)5000 pounds was stolen in the library
(why not 5000 pounds were stolen in the library)
3) mr thomsson with his wife and 3 children is aboard
(why not mr thomsson with his wife and 3 children ARE aboard )
In the above sentences subject appear to be in plural form still we are using is/was instead of was /were
Grammar
Singlar and plural
Consider the following sentences
The numbered one are the correct form of sentence and the sentence given in the bracket is my doubt.1)more than 10000 kilometers separates india from europe
(why not ,more than 10000 kilometers separate india from europe)
2)5000 pounds was stolen in the library
(why not 5000 pounds were stolen in the library)
3) mr thomsson with his wife and 3 children is aboard
(why not mr thomsson with his wife and 3 children ARE aboard )
In the above sentences subject appear to be in plural form still we are using is/was instead of was /were
Top answer
Amounts of time, money, and distance usually take singular verbs. Twenty minutes is not enough time. Six dollars is too much for that small piece of cake.
- Amounts of time, money, and distance usually take singular verbs.
- Twenty minutes is not enough time.
- Six dollars is too much for that small piece of cake.
- Two kilometers is too far for the child to walk.
- The subject of sentence 3) is MR Thomsson.
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5 Answers
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Amounts of time, money, and distance usually take singular verbs.
Twenty minutes is not enough time.
Six dollars is too much for that small piece of cake.
Two kilometers is too far for the child to walk.
The subject of sentence 3) is MR Thomsson. It doesn't say Mr. Thomsson 'and his wife'.
Mr. Thomsson, (along) with his wife and 3 children, is aboard.
Twenty minutes is not enough time.
Six dollars is too much for that small piece of cake.
Two kilometers is too far for the child to walk.
The subject of sentence 3) is MR Thomsson. It doesn't say Mr. Thomsson 'and his wife'.
Mr. Thomsson, (along) with his wife and 3 children, is aboard.
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1) More than 10,000 kilometers separates India from Europe -- This is OK: 'more than 10,000 km' = one length
Why not 'More than 10,000 kilometers separate India from Europe'? -- This is OK, too: the speaker is thinking of multiple units.
2) As with #1
3) Mr Thomsson with his wife and 3 children is aboard.-
Why not 'More than 10,000 kilometers separate India from Europe'? -- This is OK, too: the speaker is thinking of multiple units.
2) As with #1
3) Mr Thomsson with his wife and 3 children is aboard.-
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Mister Micawber3) Mr Thomsson with his wife and 3 children is aboard.-- This is correct according to grammatical concord: 'with...children' is a prepositional phrase acting as an adverb; the subject is 'Mr Thompson'.
Why not Mr Thomsson with his wife and 3 children ARE aboard-- This is commonly heard as a result of notional and/or proximal concord, but it is not gramm
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Thanks for the quick reply
canadian45: and
Mister Micawber:
Now i am a member here.
I have one more related doubt
1.Rice and curry is their only diet.
2.John and steve are eating.
If these two
canadian45: and
Mister Micawber:
Now i am a member here.
I have one more related doubt
1.Rice and curry is their only diet.
2.John and steve are eating.
If these two
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Doubt1.Rice and curry is their only diet.2.John and steve are eating.If these two sentences are correct why is is used in sentence 1 with and ?Because #1 describes a single dish while #2 describes two people.
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