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Anonymous Posted 20 years ago
Vocabulary
The main reason were ... ?
Hello all,
Could you, please, help me with this problem. I would like to express the idea, that there is one main reason for something to happend. But the reason is expressed in plural. What form should I use?
The main reason was lower claims. or
The main reason were lower claims. or
The main reasons were lower claims. (But I don't want to use this statement, because there is only ONE reason).
(I use plural noun claims - Claim means notification to aninsurance company requesting payment of an amount due under the terms of the policy. But I think the sentence would work also with the word for examle birds instead of lower claims).
Thank you,
Jirka
Could you, please, help me with this problem. I would like to express the idea, that there is one main reason for something to happend. But the reason is expressed in plural. What form should I use?
The main reason was lower claims. or
The main reason were lower claims. or
The main reasons were lower claims. (But I don't want to use this statement, because there is only ONE reason).
(I use plural noun claims - Claim means notification to aninsurance company requesting payment of an amount due under the terms of the policy. But I think the sentence would work also with the word for examle birds instead of lower claims).
Thank you,
Jirka
Top answer
One reason = was. Your sentences sound a bit strange as 'lower claims' or 'birds' are not really reasons. If you use 'a lower number of claims' or 'lower value claims' it will make more sense and sound ok.
- One reason = was.
- Your sentences sound a bit strange as 'lower claims' or 'birds' are not really reasons.
- If you use 'a lower number of claims' or 'lower value claims' it will make more sense and sound ok.
- Likewise 'birds' are not a reason for anything.
- IT could be 'damage caused by birds' or 'her love of birds' or whatever.
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4 Answers
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One reason = was.
Your sentences sound a bit strange as 'lower claims' or 'birds' are not really reasons. If you use 'a lower number of claims' or 'lower value claims' it will make more sense and sound ok. Likewise 'birds' are not a reason for anything. IT could be 'damage caused by birds' or 'her love of birds' or whatever.
Your sentences sound a bit strange as 'lower claims' or 'birds' are not really reasons. If you use 'a lower number of claims' or 'lower value claims' it will make more sense and sound ok. Likewise 'birds' are not a reason for anything. IT could be 'damage caused by birds' or 'her love of birds' or whatever.
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Nona, thank you for your answer.
Lower claims does not neccessarily means lower number of claims, it could also means lower amount of claims, but I don't know which of these two are correct. So, I use term: lower claims as a synonym to lower losses (caused by lower number of claims or/and lower ammount of claims).
So, will it sound naturally, if I say
Lower claims does not neccessarily means lower number of claims, it could also means lower amount of claims, but I don't know which of these two are correct. So, I use term: lower claims as a synonym to lower losses (caused by lower number of claims or/and lower ammount of claims).
So, will it sound naturally, if I say
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how about 'a lower level of claims' as that is ambiguous as to exactly what was lower about them, but still sounds better.
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Super.
Thank you,
Jirka
editted: For some reason, I cannot mark the thread as answered.
Thank you,
Jirka
editted: For some reason, I cannot mark the thread as answered.
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