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Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

Singular -- Plural

Fifty milliliters of sodium chloride solution were added in the second step of the experiment

Shouldn't this be solution was added...

Please explain

Thx,

Prasad
  

Top answer

Technically, the key word is the plural milliliters but since the amount is foremost in the speaker's mind, the singular was is usually used. CB

— Cool Breeze

  • Technically, the key word is the plural milliliters but since the amount is foremost in the speaker's mind, the singular was is usually used.
  • CB
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4 Answers
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Technically, the key word is the plural milliliters but since the amount is foremost in the speaker's mind, the singular was is usually used.
CB
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Is "was" or "were" right?
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Do we use "was" or "were"?
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You can use either 'was' or 'were'.

If the speaker is focused on the plural noun, then 'were' will be used.
If the speaker is looking at it as one amount (i.e. as a unit), then 'was' will be used.
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