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Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Singular noun changes description from singular to plural

> The place has changed from a small room to large buildings.

"Place" refers to a singular thing. "a small room" first and then to plural buildings. To an american english speaker like me this sounds fine but someone may mark it wrong grammar.

How can this be justified to be correct? It seems similar issue can occur in many cases, what rules dictate the correct usage?
  

Top answer

Anonymous someone may mark it wrong grammar. I don't think so. Anonymous How can this be justified to be correct?

— Mister Micawber

  • Anonymous someone may mark it wrong grammar.
  • I don't think so.
  • Anonymous How can this be justified to be correct?
  • The verb accords with the subject ('place'), not with the predication.
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5 Answers
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Anonymoussomeone may mark it wrong grammar.
I don't think so.
AnonymousHow can this be justified to be correct?
The verb accords with the subject ('place'), not with the predication.
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Semantically the sentence seems to say: place = buildings
The subject is singular but the predicate nominative is plural.

That looks like a semantic issue.
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AnonymousThat looks like a semantic issue
How do you think semantics enters into the grammar?
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You could be right that it's not grammar in the strict sense. But many people even highly educated ones often conflate the two for lack of clear boundaries.
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AnonymousBut many people even highly educated ones often conflate the two for lack of clear boundaries.
As in what example? Your original sentence is unremarkable.
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