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Stenka25 Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Singular or plural problem
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I know 'what' clause can be singular or plural depending on the complement.
? What matters most is your safety.
? What she enjoys most about children are their smiles.
There is a question asking to choose between 'is' and 'are.'
? Who we believe we are [is / are] a result of the choices we make about who we want to be like.
The answer is 'is.'
What I want to ask is "If we replace 'a result' with 'results,' can we use 'are' instead of 'is'?"
I mean "Does the single/plural problem of 'who' clause can also depend on the complement?"
StartFragment>
I know 'what' clause can be singular or plural depending on the complement.
? What matters most is your safety.
? What she enjoys most about children are their smiles.
There is a question asking to choose between 'is' and 'are.'
? Who we believe we are [is / are] a result of the choices we make about who we want to be like.
The answer is 'is.'
What I want to ask is "If we replace 'a result' with 'results,' can we use 'are' instead of 'is'?"
I mean "Does the single/plural problem of 'who' clause can also depend on the complement?"
Top answer
What she enjoys most about children are their smiles. I'm not sure I agree with the plural here. One can only enjoy one thing most: the thing that she enjoys most is .
- What she enjoys most about children are their smiles.
- I'm not sure I agree with the plural here.
- One can only enjoy one thing most: the thing that she enjoys most is .
- " The underlined part is still plural, but 'what' is singular here because it is one thing that concerns you most.
- " The school only needs one thing, and that thing is "more paying students".
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1 Answers
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? What she enjoys most about children are their smiles.
I'm not sure I agree with the plural here. One can only enjoy one thing most: the thing that she enjoys most is. Compare this to a sample sentence in one of my reference books: "What concerns me most is the increasing numbers of unemployed." The underlined part is still plural, but 'what' is singular here
I'm not sure I agree with the plural here. One can only enjoy one thing most: the thing that she enjoys most is. Compare this to a sample sentence in one of my reference books: "What concerns me most is the increasing numbers of unemployed." The underlined part is still plural, but 'what' is singular here
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