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Anonymous Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
Singular or plural?
In the sentence below, would pair be considered singular or plural?
"When the adult pair reaches the spawning area, they look for a significant concentration of gravel."
I know that depending on whether pair is sing. or pl., I'd have to modify other elements of the sentence to make it grammatically correct. I'm just unsure of which option to go with. Pair refers to fish, btw, if that has any bearing.
Thank you!
"When the adult pair reaches the spawning area, they look for a significant concentration of gravel."
I know that depending on whether pair is sing. or pl., I'd have to modify other elements of the sentence to make it grammatically correct. I'm just unsure of which option to go with. Pair refers to fish, btw, if that has any bearing.
Thank you!
Top answer
Most people would not object to either 'pair reaches' or 'pair reach' because it can be seen either syntactically or semantically. Since you're using 'they' later, I'd say it's more consistent to use 'pair reach'. And ' it looks for' doesn't seem right in reference to two fish.
- Most people would not object to either 'pair reaches' or 'pair reach' because it can be seen either syntactically or semantically.
- Since you're using 'they' later, I'd say it's more consistent to use 'pair reach'.
- And ' it looks for' doesn't seem right in reference to two fish.
- CJ
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2 Answers
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Most people would not object to either 'pair reaches' or 'pair reach' because it can be seen either syntactically or semantically.
Since you're using 'they' later, I'd say it's more consistent to use 'pair reach'. And 'it looks for' doesn't seem right in reference to two fish.
CJ
Since you're using 'they' later, I'd say it's more consistent to use 'pair reach'. And 'it looks for' doesn't seem right in reference to two fish.
CJ
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