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Kooyeen Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
There is/are a infinity
Hi
There is/are an infinity of... particles, numbers, solutions, etc.
Singular or plural? My dictionaries say "is" in their examples, but I've seen a lot of "are" googling, used by native speakers like professors, or in articles.
Are both ok? Thanks
There is/are an infinity of... particles, numbers, solutions, etc.
Singular or plural? My dictionaries say "is" in their examples, but I've seen a lot of "are" googling, used by native speakers like professors, or in articles.
Are both ok? Thanks
Top answer
Hi, I once heard a debate about this too. Here are the arguments of the two sides: 1. The one that goes for are said that: if are is used for a hundred or more , then are must be used for infinity since infinity is greater than one hundred or any countable number.
- Hi, I once heard a debate about this too.
- Here are the arguments of the two sides: 1.
- The one that goes for are said that: if are is used for a hundred or more , then are must be used for infinity since infinity is greater than one hundred or any countable number.
- 2.
- , hundreds / thousands), but infinity is uncountable (there is one and only one); thus, infinity is treated as singular noun and is is more appropriate.
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10 Answers
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Hi,
I once heard a debate about this too. Here are the arguments of the two sides:
1. The one that goes for are said that: if are is used for a hundred or more, then are must be used for infinity since infinity is greater than one hundred or any countable number.
2. The other side argued
I once heard a debate about this too. Here are the arguments of the two sides:
1. The one that goes for are said that: if are is used for a hundred or more, then are must be used for infinity since infinity is greater than one hundred or any countable number.
2. The other side argued
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Hi Kooyeen
According to the Collins Cobuild English Dictionary for Advanced Learners, 'infinity' is uncountable.
There is always an infinity of numbers between any two numbers.
According to the Collins Cobuild English Dictionary for Advanced Learners, 'infinity' is uncountable.
There is always an infinity of numbers between any two numbers.
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Yes, thanks. Dictionaries say "is". But there seem to be a lot of people who use "are". Maybe the plural is more common, maybe not, we will never know. That's why I was asking if the plural was acceptable to American ears. I like it better.
It looks like it's like "a total". Some say "There is a total of 105...", others say "There are a total of 105..." - I personally prefer the plural by far
It looks like it's like "a total". Some say "There is a total of 105...", others say "There are a total of 105..." - I personally prefer the plural by far
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1. There is an infinity of numbers between 0 and 1.
2. There are an infinity of numbers between 0 and 1.
For me, the underlined part of #1 post-modifies "infinity": thus the focus is on infinity.
In #2, on the other hand, the underlined part pre-modifies "numbers between 0 and 1". Thus the focus is on numbers between 0 and 1.
The numb
2. There are an infinity of numbers between 0 and 1.
For me, the underlined part of #1 post-modifies "infinity": thus the focus is on infinity.
In #2, on the other hand, the underlined part pre-modifies "numbers between 0 and 1". Thus the focus is on numbers between 0 and 1.
The numb
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MrPedantic1. There is an infinity of numbers between 0 and 1.
2. There are an infinity of numbers between 0 and 1.
For me, the underlined part of #1 post-modifies "infinity": thus the focus is on infinity.
In #2, on the other hand, the underlined part pre-modifies "numbers between 0 and 1". Thus the focus is on numbers be
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Hello HT,
Hoa ThaiMy old note stated: 'a number of ' is plural and 'the number of' is singular.
We can apply this logic of yours to 'a number of ' too, right?
1. ?There is a number of reasons why my post may be mislead
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PS:
It occurs to me that "a number of" + singular verb doesn't sound "odd" if "number" is qualified, e.g.
1. There is only a very small number of tickets available.
2. There is a limited number of possible outcomes.
MrP
It occurs to me that "a number of" + singular verb doesn't sound "odd" if "number" is qualified, e.g.
1. There is only a very small number of tickets available.
2. There is a limited number of possible outcomes.
MrP
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Ok, thanks everyone.
So both are acceptable to British ears. I wonder if American ears might have something against it. Let's hope not.
So both are acceptable to British ears. I wonder if American ears might have something against it. Let's hope not.
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I just want to add that FAR more natural to me is "There are an infinite number of solutions..." than "There are an infinity of..."
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Grammar GeekI just want to add that FAR more natural to me is "There are an infinite number of solutions..." than "There are an infinity of..."Yes, it made me fidget a little too.
MrP
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