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Tach Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Singular or plural
When I was reading an academic article, I found a sentence which seemed a bit strange to me.
It reads as follows.
"Words, for example, are specifically a part of language, but the use of the lungs and the vocal cords, although necessary for spoken language, are not limited to language."
The subject of the latter half of this passage appears to be "the use of ... cords"; therefore, I think the verb should be not are but is.
Could someone give me any suggestion?
It reads as follows.
"Words, for example, are specifically a part of language, but the use of the lungs and the vocal cords, although necessary for spoken language, are not limited to language."
The subject of the latter half of this passage appears to be "the use of ... cords"; therefore, I think the verb should be not are but is.
Could someone give me any suggestion?
Top answer
You're right; the clause subject 'the use' is a singular noun so the agreement between the subject and the verb in the clause make you use 'is'.
- You're right; the clause subject 'the use' is a singular noun so the agreement between the subject and the verb in the clause make you use 'is'.
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5 Answers
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You're right; the clause subject 'the use' is a singular noun so the agreement between the subject and the verb in the clause make you use 'is'.
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The other way of looking at it is "the use of the lungs AND [the use of] the vocal cords" making it a compound subject.
Certainly one uses the lungs all the time, without simultaneously using the vocal cords, so the idea of independent use and therefore a compound subject makes sense.
(That doesn't mean your concept is wrong. Just another view.)
Certainly one uses the lungs all the time, without simultaneously using the vocal cords, so the idea of independent use and therefore a compound subject makes sense.
(That doesn't mean your concept is wrong. Just another view.)
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is this a correct sentence/grammar? "What we are testing here are your lungs?" What "verb to be" are we going to use for the word LUNGS?
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Anonymousis this a correct sentence/grammar? "What we are testing here are your lungs?" What "verb to be" are we going to use for the word LUNGS?You have presented yourself with an unnecessary conundrum. The wise writer recasts:
We are testing your lungs here.
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