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Blueclaws Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
Subject-Verb Agreement: Have been vs. has been
"The past seven years, from my freshman year to today, has been a period of tremendous change and growth. "
Shouldn't the bolded verb be singular because it refers to the singular period? Perhaps it should be have been because it refers to seven years or change and growth?
I'm stumped!
Best regards,
-Peter
Shouldn't the bolded verb be singular because it refers to the singular period? Perhaps it should be have been because it refers to seven years or change and growth?
I'm stumped!
Best regards,
-Peter
Top answer
Seven year s -> have but you'll see both. However: It's going to be the best Christmas ever because this year I have done everything myself and the horrible atmosphere of the last seven years has lifted .
- Seven year s -> have but you'll see both.
- However: It's going to be the best Christmas ever because this year I have done everything myself and the horrible atmosphere of the last seven years has lifted .
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4 Answers
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Seven years -> have
but you'll see both.
However:
It's going to be the best Christmas ever because this year I have done everything myself and the horrible atmosphere of the last seven years has lifted.
but you'll see both.
However:
It's going to be the best Christmas ever because this year I have done everything myself and the horrible atmosphere of the last seven years has lifted.
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OK, but if we distill this sentence and simplify it a bit...
"The past seven years have been a period of tremendous growth. "
Doesn't that sound incorrect? Seven years is the subject, but isn't period a detailed, specific characterization of that subject?
"The past seven years have been a period of tremendous growth. "
Doesn't that sound incorrect? Seven years is the subject, but isn't period a detailed, specific characterization of that subject?
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Marius HancuSeven years -> haveI agree with Marius. In English the
but you'll see both.
However:
It's going to be the best Christmas ever because this year I have done everything myself and the horrible atmosphere of the last seven years has lifted.
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Blueclaws
"The past seven years, from my freshman year to today, has been a period of tremendous change and growth. "
Shouldn't the bolded verb be singular because it refers to the singular period? Perhaps it should be have been because it refers to seven years or change and growth?
PeterThe past seven yea
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