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Nsfs2 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Subject- verb agreement
Hi,
I have three problems:the first has to do with the subject-verb agreement after 'a type of' , and the second with choosing between the plural or singular after 'a type of'_as I see that sometimes both forms are used.The third is related to pronoun agreement.
I am going to provide two examples which might give you an idea of what I mean.
1.He discovered a new type of animal(s) which provide(s)...
2.He discovered a new type of shark(s),and is studying it/them...
I hope you could help with and provide expansive explanation,please.
Thanks a lot.
I have three problems:the first has to do with the subject-verb agreement after 'a type of' , and the second with choosing between the plural or singular after 'a type of'_as I see that sometimes both forms are used.The third is related to pronoun agreement.
I am going to provide two examples which might give you an idea of what I mean.
1.He discovered a new type of animal(s) which provide(s)...
2.He discovered a new type of shark(s),and is studying it/them...
I hope you could help with and provide expansive explanation,please.
Thanks a lot.
Top answer
He discovered a new type of animal(s) which provide(s)... It's "animal", but your example is flawed. "Which" implies a non-restrictive clause, but you have no comma there, and I can't tell whether the antecedent of "which" is his discovery, the type, or the animal.
- He discovered a new type of animal(s) which provide(s)...
- It's "animal", but your example is flawed.
- "Which" implies a non-restrictive clause, but you have no comma there, and I can't tell whether the antecedent of "which" is his discovery, the type, or the animal.
- In any case, the verb will be "provides".
- He discovered a new type of shark(s),and is studying it/them...
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7 Answers
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1.He discovered a new type of animal(s) which provide(s)...
It's "animal", but your example is flawed. "Which" implies a non-restrictive clause, but you have no comma there, and I can't tell whether the antecedent of "which" is his discovery, the type, or the animal. In any case, the verb will be "provides".
2.He discovered a new type of shark(s),and is studying it/them...
It's "animal", but your example is flawed. "Which" implies a non-restrictive clause, but you have no comma there, and I can't tell whether the antecedent of "which" is his discovery, the type, or the animal. In any case, the verb will be "provides".
2.He discovered a new type of shark(s),and is studying it/them...
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enoon1.He discovered a new type of animal(s) which provide(s)...It's "animal", but your example is flawed. "Which" implies a non-restrictive clause, but you have no comma there, and I can't tell whether the antecedent of "which" is his discovery, the type, or the animal. In any case, the verb will be "provides".2.He discovered a new type of shark(s),and is studying it/the
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nsfs2One more question:is a comma necessary before 'which'?No, it would be wrong to put a comma there. In BrE, it's perfectly acceptable to introduce a restrictive clause with "which".
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Ivanhr nsfs2One more question:is a comma necessary before 'which'?No, it would be wrong to put a comma there. In BrE, it's perfectly acceptable to introduce a restrictive clause with "which".That is also acceptable over here, but I like to use "that". In the absence of a complete sentence, it was not possible to tell whether "which" was introducing a restrict
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Ivanhr nsfs2One more question:is a comma necessary before 'which'?No, it would be wrong to put a comma there. In BrE, it's perfectly acceptable to introduce a restrictive clause with "which".Thanks,Ivanhr.
Does 'acceptable' mean that there are other choices instead of 'which' in other Englishes.
What about my sentence?Is it OK.
Than
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Your sentence is fine. You can use "that" in place of "which" (preferred in AmE).
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