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Hela Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

they are + singular noun

Dear teachers,

What do you call the English construction where a plural noun and verb are followed by a singular noun such as “they have been a great help to me these/the (?) last few days.”
Is this only possible when the indefinite article is followed by an adjective or not necessarily?
Would you please give more examples of the kind with countable and uncountable singular nouns?

Thank you for your help.
  

Top answer

I see this as a simple situation of a linking verb (to be) linking two nouns. " Similar situation but in present perfect tense. " Similar situation with "he" and "a great help" being the same.

— Anonymous

  • I see this as a simple situation of a linking verb (to be) linking two nouns.
  • " Similar situation but in present perfect tense.
  • " Similar situation with "he" and "a great help" being the same.
  • " "My parents are my rock.
  • "
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1 Answers
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I see this as a simple situation of a linking verb (to be) linking two nouns. For example:

"He is a doctor." The nouns "he" and "a doctor" refer to the same thing and are connected by the linking verb "is."

"He has been a doctor here for twenty years." Similar situation but in present perfect tense.

"He has been a great help to me in my career." Similar situation wit
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