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The17pointscale Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
subject-verb agreement
hi, everyone.
in this sentence --
"the presence and distribution of LBP (Lewy body pathology) was/were variable within families"
-- would you use 'was' or 'were'?
thanks,
andrew
in this sentence --
"the presence and distribution of LBP (Lewy body pathology) was/were variable within families"
-- would you use 'was' or 'were'?
thanks,
andrew
Top answer
Hi, the presence and distribution of LBP (Lewy body pathology) was/were variable within families" It's hard to say without some understanding of this medical terminology. It sounds like a plural subject to me, thus 'were'. But if the whole subject phrase is thought of 'as a logical unit' by the writer, he might say 'was'.
- Hi, the presence and distribution of LBP (Lewy body pathology) was/were variable within families" It's hard to say without some understanding of this medical terminology.
- It sounds like a plural subject to me, thus 'were'.
- But if the whole subject phrase is thought of 'as a logical unit' by the writer, he might say 'was'.
- eg After dinner, you might possibly say 'The chicken was good, but the fish and chips was terrible'.
- Best wishes, Clive
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5 Answers
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Hi,
the presence and distribution of LBP (Lewy body pathology) was/were variable within families"
It's hard to say without some understanding of this medical terminology. It sounds like a plural subject to me, thus 'were'. But if the whole subject phrase is thought of 'as a logical unit' by the writer, he might say 'was'.
eg After dinn
the presence and distribution of LBP (Lewy body pathology) was/were variable within families"
It's hard to say without some understanding of this medical terminology. It sounds like a plural subject to me, thus 'were'. But if the whole subject phrase is thought of 'as a logical unit' by the writer, he might say 'was'.
eg After dinn
00
thanks, clive.
i agree. it should probably be were, but it's odd; i have this strange feeling that were sounds funny. each time i read through the paragraph, i get snagged on that sentence and can't help thinking, 'gosh, is that right?' for some reason, my gut feeling is to go with was.
-andrew
i agree. it should probably be were, but it's odd; i have this strange feeling that were sounds funny. each time i read through the paragraph, i get snagged on that sentence and can't help thinking, 'gosh, is that right?' for some reason, my gut feeling is to go with was.
-andrew
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The17pointscale"the presence and distribution of LBP (Lewy body pathology) were variable within families"That's my view of it.
-- would you use 'was' or 'were'?
[8]
00
Thank you.
In regard to the concept of thinking it/them as a logical unit, would you say it is determined by
a) the overall context
b) a social or academians' norm
c) the sole mind of the writer of the sentence
Is all the articles for the underlined part correctly placed?
In regard to the concept of thinking it/them as a logical unit, would you say it is determined by
a) the overall context
b) a social or academians' norm
c) the sole mind of the writer of the sentence
Is all the articles for the underlined part correctly placed?
00
Hi,
I dunno. Generally speaking, a bit of all three, I guess.
c) the sole mind of the writer of the sentence
Are all the articles for the underlined part correctly placed? Yes. But I'd say 'solely by the mind of the ..'
Best wishes, Clive
I dunno. Generally speaking, a bit of all three, I guess.
c) the sole mind of the writer of the sentence
Are all the articles for the underlined part correctly placed? Yes. But I'd say 'solely by the mind of the ..'
Best wishes, Clive
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