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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Subject and verbal agreement.

Here is my sentence: Recent and past memory appear(s) intact.

I realize that the word memory itself is singular; therefore, the verb should be singular. However, what confuses me is that the word memory here describes both recent memory and past memory, which would be plural, so the verb should be plural. Or, should I use "memories" instead of "memory" in this sentence. Please help!

Thanks! Emotion: smile
  

Top answer

I prefer "appear". I suppose some people might view it as one thing ("memory") of which there are two types and use "appears". I'm not sure that "recent memory" and "past memory" are the best terms (all memory is "past" memory).

  • I prefer "appear".
  • I suppose some people might view it as one thing ("memory") of which there are two types and use "appears".
  • I'm not sure that "recent memory" and "past memory" are the best terms (all memory is "past" memory).
  • Two terms often used are "short-term memory" and "long-term memory".
  • These refer, respectively, to the ability to remember recent events and distant events.
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3 Answers
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I prefer "appear". I suppose some people might view it as one thing ("memory") of which there are two types and use "appears".

I'm not sure that "recent memory" and "past memory" are the best terms (all memory is "past" memory). Two terms often used are "short-term memory" and "long-term memory". These refer, respectively, to the ability to remember recent events and distant events.
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Memory - can be used both in singular and plural context.
The sentence in your example shuld be plural verb agreement in my opnion.
Memories are our mental images collected from of different time passed; so each one is unique.
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Thanks for your opinion. Emotion: smile And I guess I should have clarified that I am a medical transcriptionist and that "recent" memory, "remot

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