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Usenet Posted 23 years ago
Usage
Subject-Verb agreement (oh no not again!)
I hesitate to raise this one but I heard someone talking about Presidential elections in Serbia say "A total of six candidates are standing". Is this correct?
In theory, the subject is "total" and since there is only one, it seems that it should take a singular verb. This is logical nonsense though because it's clear that six people are doing the standing rather than a total. Using "is" would jar however.
What's correct here?
Cheers
Chrissy
In theory, the subject is "total" and since there is only one, it seems that it should take a singular verb. This is logical nonsense though because it's clear that six people are doing the standing rather than a total. Using "is" would jar however.
What's correct here?
Cheers
Chrissy
Top answer
[nq:1]I hesitate to raise this one but I heard someone talking about Presidential elections in Serbia say "A total of six candidates are standing". [/nq] Sure. Consider it an idiom if you like.
- [nq:1]I hesitate to raise this one but I heard someone talking about Presidential elections in Serbia say "A total of six candidates are standing".
- [/nq] Sure.
- Consider it an idiom if you like.
- Expressions like that are are construed as plural even if singular in form.
- ) Mark Brader, Toronto Premature generalization is (Email Removed) the square root of all evil.
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148 Answers
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[nq:1]I hesitate to raise this one but I heard someone talking about Presidential elections in Serbia say "A total of six candidates are standing". Is this correct?[/nq]
Sure. Consider it an idiom if you like. Expressions like that are are construed as plural even if singular in form.
(And note how carefully non-specific I am with my "like that".)
Mark Brader, Toronto Premature genera
Sure. Consider it an idiom if you like. Expressions like that are are construed as plural even if singular in form.
(And note how carefully non-specific I am with my "like that".)
Mark Brader, Toronto Premature genera
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[nq:2]"A total of six candidates are standing". Is this correct?[/nq]
[nq:1]Sure. Consider it an idiom if you like. Expressions like that are are construed as plural even if singular in form.[/nq]
No matter how very plural it is, it still only gets one "are". :-)
Michael Hamm Since mid-September of 2003, AM, Math, Wash. U. St. Louis I've been erasing too much UBE. (Email Removed)
[nq:1]Sure. Consider it an idiom if you like. Expressions like that are are construed as plural even if singular in form.[/nq]
No matter how very plural it is, it still only gets one "are". :-)
Michael Hamm Since mid-September of 2003, AM, Math, Wash. U. St. Louis I've been erasing too much UBE. (Email Removed)
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[nq:1]I hesitate to raise this one but I heard someone talking about Presidential elections in Serbia say "A total of six candidates are standing". Is this correct?[/nq]
Yes.
[nq:1]In theory, the subject is "total" and since there is only one, it seems that it should take a singular ... clear that six people are doing the standing rather than a total. Using "is" would jar however. What's c
Yes.
[nq:1]In theory, the subject is "total" and since there is only one, it seems that it should take a singular ... clear that six people are doing the standing rather than a total. Using "is" would jar however. What's c
00
[nq:1]I hesitate to raise this one but I heard someone talking about Presidential elections in Serbia say "A total of ... clear that six people are doing the standing rather than a total. Using "is" would jar however. What's correct here?[/nq]
"Is".
But these things, clashes between felicity and grammar (and logic(1)), crop up constantly, and the answer to each is simple: you use the gramm
"Is".
But these things, clashes between felicity and grammar (and logic(1)), crop up constantly, and the answer to each is simple: you use the gramm
00
[nq:2]I hesitate to raise this one but I heard someone ... a total. Using "is" would jar however. What's correct here?[/nq]
[nq:1]"Is".[/nq]
Oy!
[nq:1]"Is".[/nq]
Oy!
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[nq:2]I hesitate to raise this one but I heard someone ... a total. Using "is" would jar however. What's correct here?[/nq]
[nq:1]"Is".[/nq]
"Total" is notionally plural here. It's like when the Brits say "Kodak are coming out with a new camera..."
Gary Eickmeier
[nq:1]"Is".[/nq]
"Total" is notionally plural here. It's like when the Brits say "Kodak are coming out with a new camera..."
Gary Eickmeier
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[nq:2]"Is".[/nq]
[nq:1]Oy![/nq]
Here again, I suppose it depends on what "is" means.
\\P. Schultz
[nq:1]Oy![/nq]
Here again, I suppose it depends on what "is" means.
\\P. Schultz
00
[nq:2]I hesitate to raise this one but I heard someone ... six candidates are standing". Is this correct? What's correct here?[/nq]
[nq:1]"Is". But these things, clashes between felicity and grammar (and logic(1)), crop up constantly, [/nq]
Nope. It's "are."
"A total of six candidates are standing" is not only perfectly proper and unexceptionable, but it's an axample of a usage that ha
[nq:1]"Is". But these things, clashes between felicity and grammar (and logic(1)), crop up constantly, [/nq]
Nope. It's "are."
"A total of six candidates are standing" is not only perfectly proper and unexceptionable, but it's an axample of a usage that ha
00
[nq:1]"Total" is notionally plural here. It's like when the Brits say "Kodak are coming out with a new camera..."[/nq]
That and Bob's "Oy" notwithstanding, I don't think it is.
Some day, perhaps even in our lifetimes, it may be. "None" has now moved to being unexceptionably plural when the context so requires(1); but I do not, myself, believe that "number", "total", and like forms hav
That and Bob's "Oy" notwithstanding, I don't think it is.
Some day, perhaps even in our lifetimes, it may be. "None" has now moved to being unexceptionably plural when the context so requires(1); but I do not, myself, believe that "number", "total", and like forms hav
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[nq:2]I hesitate to raise this one but I heard someone ... a total. Using "is" would jar however. What's correct here?[/nq]
[nq:1]"Is".[/nq]
Wrong. However people vote, it will be yet another politician, not a total, who is elected.
I think the example is best understood as a clumsy version of "In total, six candidates are standing".
Regards
John
[nq:1]"Is".[/nq]
Wrong. However people vote, it will be yet another politician, not a total, who is elected.
I think the example is best understood as a clumsy version of "In total, six candidates are standing".
Regards
John
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