The second is the primordial causes.
I've found the sentence below in a philosophy book:
The second is the primordial causes.
Would you please be so kind as to explain why it is "causes" (plural) and not "cause" (singular)?
Thank you.
Top answer
Because the author considers that there is more than one primordial cause. You may be put off by the singular verb "is". The author is equating a grammatical singular ("the second (species)") with a grammatical plural ("the primordial causes"), so the number of the verb agrees with the subject but not the complement.
- Because the author considers that there is more than one primordial cause.
- You may be put off by the singular verb "is".
- The author is equating a grammatical singular ("the second (species)") with a grammatical plural ("the primordial causes"), so the number of the verb agrees with the subject but not the complement.
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Because the author considers that there is more than one primordial cause. You may be put off by the singular verb "is". The author is equating a grammatical singular ("the second (species)") with a grammatical plural ("the primordial causes"), so the number of the verb agrees with the subject but not the complement.
0The first and fourth division is *** as Source and End. The second (division) is the Primordial Causes as creative, and the third is “created natures” including the human ...
The subject, "division" is singular. There are many primordial causes" in this classification.
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