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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Was vs. were

I've googled "was vs. were" to figure out the answer to my particular grammar question, but I just can't seem to find the answer.

All that was in their heads was worries about how the detective would react.

Are both "was" supposed to be "were" ? Or should one be "were" ?

Help, please!
  

Top answer

" The easy way out is to give the sentence a subject so that the "that" is clearly the head of a pronoun clause. " John

— Jemaasjr

  • " The easy way out is to give the sentence a subject so that the "that" is clearly the head of a pronoun clause.
  • " John
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1 Answers
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I think the problem you are having is with the word "that." The easy way out is to give the sentence a subject so that the "that" is clearly the head of a pronoun clause. As, "All the problems that were in their heads were the worries...." Because the "that" treats it's plural antecedent collectively, it remains singular, not "those."

John
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