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Ditch Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Verb Agreement
Pardon yet another noob question, but ...
There was some writing paper, apples, glasses and a lamp on the desk.
The verb has to agree with the first item/class of items regardless of how many others there are, correct? In this case it has to be was to agree with writing paper. But if I swapped around writing paper and apples, it would be were instead of was, yes? Is there a formal explanation for this rule and why the multiple items described in the sentence aren't just considered part of one group (in which case the verb would be were)? And is there a name for the parts of the sentence (the items) that don't agree with the verb, but are still grammatically correct?
Thanks for your help.
There was some writing paper, apples, glasses and a lamp on the desk.
The verb has to agree with the first item/class of items regardless of how many others there are, correct? In this case it has to be was to agree with writing paper. But if I swapped around writing paper and apples, it would be were instead of was, yes? Is there a formal explanation for this rule and why the multiple items described in the sentence aren't just considered part of one group (in which case the verb would be were)? And is there a name for the parts of the sentence (the items) that don't agree with the verb, but are still grammatically correct?
Thanks for your help.
Top answer
Ditch Is there a formal explanation for this rule It's called the principle of proximity. Ditch The verb has to agree with the first item/class of items regardless of how many others there are, correct? That is not my understanding of it.
- Ditch Is there a formal explanation for this rule It's called the principle of proximity.
- Ditch The verb has to agree with the first item/class of items regardless of how many others there are, correct?
- That is not my understanding of it.
- If you want to use the plural were , you can.
- CJ
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3 Answers
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Ditch Is there a formal explanation for this ruleIt's called the principle of proximity.
DitchThe verb has to agree with the first item/class of items regardless of how many others there are, correct?That is not my understanding of it. If you want to use the plural were, you can.
CJ
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CalifJimThat is not my understanding of it. If you want to use the plural were, you can.Oh, okay!
CalifJimIt's called the principle of proximity.Sooo ... if the subject immediately following the verb is, say, a singular noun phrase, the inclination to make the verb agree with the singular form can (but doesn't have
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Ditchthe inclination to make the verb agree with the singular form can (but doesn't have to) override other considerations about number?That's it.
There were a pencil and a few pens on the table.
There was a pencil and a few pens on the table.
There were a few pens and a pencil on the table.
CJ
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