Singular or plural

Question

Hi, there.Here is a sentece I am wondering.What I know about him (is/are) unusally bad things.Can I use the verb 'are' in this sentence?I mean... Can I consider what-relative clauses plural? or is 'What I know about him' always singural?  I'm confused....

Philip · Accepted Answer

I would use the plural.

CalifJim · Answer

youngbuts I'm confused...

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What he did was run away.

But:

???What he did were point and laugh.
________________

John is a scholar.

But:

???John are a scholar and a gentleman.
_________________

All you have to do is press this button.

But:

???All you have to do are press this button and pray that it works.
__________________

What he is is mayor.

But:

??? What he is are mayor and fire chief.
??? What he are are mayor and fire chief.
__________________

What he knows about me is that I am shy.
???What he knows about me are that I am shy and that I am clever.
__________________

Yet:

?Also a danger to public safety is poorly marked streets.
?Also a danger to public safety are poorly marked streets.

What he knows about me is the fact that I am shy.
?What he knows about me are the facts that I am shy and that I am clever.
???What he knows about me is the facts that I am shy and that I am clever.
____________________

I can't find a source that takes a definite stand on such structures. You might take a look here:

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-9582.1990.tb00803.x/abstract

which says:

"According to the view defended in this study, the postverbal NP is the real subject and as such ‘attractive’ enough to override the otherwise very strong association between subjecthood and preverbal position."

This argues for What I know about him are unusually bad things.

I find both choices unsatisfactory, and I would change the sentence.

CJ

Singular or plural

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