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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Verb use in questions with multiple singular subjects
Hi,
I was wondering what is the rule for plurarlizing a verb in a question, where the subject is multiple singular objects. Specifically:
What are my user name and password? or is it What is my user name and password?
Normally, I'd think it is two objects joined with an and, so it is plural, but I couldn't find any hard rules on questions, and I wonder if you're technically asking What is my user name and What is my password at the same time?
I was wondering what is the rule for plurarlizing a verb in a question, where the subject is multiple singular objects. Specifically:
What are my user name and password? or is it What is my user name and password?
Normally, I'd think it is two objects joined with an and, so it is plural, but I couldn't find any hard rules on questions, and I wonder if you're technically asking What is my user name and What is my password at the same time?
Top answer
There is no hard rule when the objects come after the verb like that; it depends on whether the speaker is thinking linearly (one at a time) or ahead to the group of objects. On the other hand, note this: What is my name and my friends' names? What are my friends' names and my name?
- There is no hard rule when the objects come after the verb like that; it depends on whether the speaker is thinking linearly (one at a time) or ahead to the group of objects.
- On the other hand, note this: What is my name and my friends' names?
- What are my friends' names and my name?
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5 Answers
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There is no hard rule when the objects come after the verb like that; it depends on whether the speaker is thinking linearly (one at a time) or ahead to the group of objects. On the other hand, note this:
What is my name and my friends' names?
What are my friends' names and my name?
What is my name and my friends' names?
What are my friends' names and my name?
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Hi. Please help. I believe my question relates to the topic in discussion, so I am going to ask the question. You have the word "group," which, I think, could be used to mean a unit or individual parts.
Now to the question: Is this correct? For the example question below, I think the verb "Does" is used first to follow the notion that the "group" is to be thought of as a unit and then if
Now to the question: Is this correct? For the example question below, I think the verb "Does" is used first to follow the notion that the "group" is to be thought of as a unit and then if
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'Does' is the finite verb; 'think' is an infinitive. Your only choices are these:
Does the group of people here think...?
Do the group of people here think...?
Now, what is your question?
Does the group of people here think...?
Do the group of people here think...?
Now, what is your question?
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Thank you very much. Sorry. The example question I wrote wasn't correct.
The example question I wrote is this:
Does the group of people here think (thinks?) the same way as you?
Now, allow me to introduce to you another example sentence that reflects my dilemma.
Is the group of people that/who agree (agrees?) with you here?
The example question I wrote is this:
Does the group of people here think (thinks?) the same way as you?
Now, allow me to introduce to you another example sentence that reflects my dilemma.
Is the group of people that/who agree (agrees?) with you here?
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Is the group of people that/who agree with you here?
This is more interesting. It is a group. The group (is composed) of people. Those people agree with you.
This is more interesting. It is a group. The group (is composed) of people. Those people agree with you.
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