what I want to do is/are?

Question

I think "are" in the sentence below would be correct. But I am wondering if what I think is correct.

1. What/all I want to do is to eat and drink.

What/all I want to do are to eat and drink.

2. All I know is her name and phone number.

All I know are her name and phone number.

3. What you should invest all your money in is telecoms companies.

What you should invest all your money in are telecoms companies.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

The following are correct (US usage).

1. "What I want to do is (to) eat and drink."

"All I want to do is (to) eat and drink."

Note: why the verb is singular when you have a two-component element, eat and drink, is a good question. The answer to this is apparently that "eat and drink" is idiomatic and considered "singular" in sense. Even with a three-component element, "eat, drink, and be merry," the verb is still singular, as this is also idiomatic and considered singular in sense: "All I want to do is (to) eat, drink, and be merry."

2. Similarly, the group, "name and phone number," is idiomatic and considered to be a unit and singular in sense. So the following is correct:

All I know is her name and phone number.

"All I know are her name and phone number." is also heard, but this sounds overly formal and snooty in casual speech.

3. The following is correct (no. 3 is a difficult question to answer for a native English speaker - there's a lot of idiomatic usage here that just has to be learned by experience):

"What you should invest all your money in is in telecom companies."

"What you should invest all your money in" is idiomatic and what follows is considered singular, for example:

"What you should invest your money in is in stocks."

"What you should invest your money in is in high-yield bonds."

The words "what" and "all" are used with plural verbs in the following situations (why the verb is plural or singular in the following sentences is difficult to explain for a native English speaker - a lot of this is idiomatic and just has to be learned by experience):

"What are your goals in life." ("What is your goal in life." is singular.)

"All of these companies are bio-tech companies." ("All of this is bio-tech-related." is singular.)

"What are you having to drink?" ("What is this you're drinking?" is singular.)

"All of these issues are caused by you." ("All of this is your fault." is singular.)

CalifJim · Answer

Belinda ChenWhat/all I want to do ... All I know ... What you should invest all your money in ...

All are considered singular subjects. Verbs agree with their subjects, so "is" is the correct verb.

CJ

Belinda Chen · Answer

Thanks you for the reply.

And I am also wondering if I should use "is" in the following sentences which are also followed by a clause:

There are apples, oranges and bananas in the shop. "All I bought is/are the apples". (If all here refers to the previous things, can it take a plural verb?)

"All I bought is/are the apples". (Without any reference)

I had ten pens. "But all I have now is/are only five"

"All I have is/are only five"

Also I am thinking "All" followed by a clause in the following sentences can take a plural verb?

He lent me ten books. "All that are easy for me to read are only two books.

"All that are cheaper always stimulate people to purchase them."

She saw ten films recently. "All that made her impressed are only the three.

Belinda Chen · Answer

I am asking the question about the sentences below because I think "all" can be plural and singular pronouns.
Ex: All are yours/ All are equal, All is lost/ All is gone.
If I can take plural verb in the following sentences, why can't I take "all" in the sentences of my first post as plural, which then are followed by plural verb?

He lent me ten books. "All that are easy for me to read are only two books.

"All that are cheaper always stimulate people to purchase them."

She saw ten films recently. "All that made her impressed are only the three.

CalifJim · Answer

Belinda ChenAll I bought is/are the apples

I think either would be acceptable, but most of us would probably say "I only bought the apples", so we don't really encounter the problem of deciding between 'is' or 'are' very often. As you will see below, we don't use this construction with "all" when a construction with "only" is possible.

Belinda ChenAll I have is/are only five

We would not likely combine "all" with "only" like this. All I have is/are five. (Personally, I would use "is".) OR I only have five.

Belinda ChenAll that are easy for me to read are only two books

The same as above. The only books that are easy for me to read are these two. OR These two books are the only ones that are easy for me to read. We would not use "all" here.

Belinda ChenAll that are cheaper always stimulate people to purchase them.

Oof! Not a good sentence. Again, we would not use "all". The cheaper ones always stimulate people to purchase them.

Belinda ChenAll that made her impressed are only the three

And again. Only three (of them) impressed her.

CJ

Belinda Chen · Answer

Thank you for the explanation. Actually, I am confused about the usage of "all" and I make it more clear what and why I am questioning it on my post with the title (All is/ are). Would you please take a look and help me to figure it out if it is convenient for you.

Thanks you in advance.

CalifJim · Answer

I almost always use the singular after those "All (that)" subjects, but there are (fewer) people who prefer the plural when the complement of the sentence is plural.

There is no definitive answer to the question. See the following links. They both show various opinions on this topic.

All I can see is or are?

http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/203384/correct-usage-for-all-you-need-is-are

CJ

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