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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Were v's Was
Hi,
I was hoping someone might be able to clarify a "were v's was" question (something I thought I knew but now am not sure!)
Which of the following are correct? (or should that be which of the following is correct??)
1a) Temperature, pressure, and feed flow rates of X and Y streams were recorded.
1b) Temperature, pressure, and feed flow rates of X and Y streams was recorded.
2a) The separation and condensation of XY from off-gas were carried out over a gas membrane module.
2b) The separation and condensation of XY from off-gas was carried out over a gas membrane module.
Many thanks for any help you can give!
C
I was hoping someone might be able to clarify a "were v's was" question (something I thought I knew but now am not sure!)
Which of the following are correct? (or should that be which of the following is correct??)
1a) Temperature, pressure, and feed flow rates of X and Y streams were recorded.
1b) Temperature, pressure, and feed flow rates of X and Y streams was recorded.
2a) The separation and condensation of XY from off-gas were carried out over a gas membrane module.
2b) The separation and condensation of XY from off-gas was carried out over a gas membrane module.
Many thanks for any help you can give!
C
Top answer
Which of the following are correct? )-- 'Are' because you are expecting two in the answer. -- With the double multiplicity (3 in the subject and 2 in the adjective phrase), 'was' can hardly be supported.
- Which of the following are correct?
- )-- 'Are' because you are expecting two in the answer.
- -- With the double multiplicity (3 in the subject and 2 in the adjective phrase), 'was' can hardly be supported.
- -- The singular seems a more natural response to me, but you may well choose the plural: it depends entirely on whether you consider 'separation & condensation' a single continuous procedure or two distinct ones.
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2 Answers
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Which of the following are correct? (or should that be which of the following is correct??)-- 'Are' because you are expecting two in the answer.
1a) Temperature, pressure, and feed flow rates of X and Y streams were recorded.-- With the double multiplicity (3 in the subject and 2 in the adjective phrase), 'was' can hardly be supported.
2b) The separation and
1a) Temperature, pressure, and feed flow rates of X and Y streams were recorded.-- With the double multiplicity (3 in the subject and 2 in the adjective phrase), 'was' can hardly be supported.
2b) The separation and
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