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Zuotengdazuo Posted 10 years ago
Why does the predicate not agree with the subject in this sentence?
Thank you.
Grammar
Why does the predicate not agree with the subject in this sentence?
Why is "were" used in this sentence? Shouldn't it be "was" since I was taught that a noun clause is considered as singular?
I was walking down a dark street late in the evening when I heard loud cries coming from behind a bush.
Surprised, I slowed down to listen, and realized that what I was hearing were the unmistakable sounds of a struggle: heavy grunting, frantic fighting, and tearing of clothes.
Why does the predicate not agree with the subject in this sentence?
Thank you.
Top answer
what I was hearing were the unmistakable sounds of a struggle what = a "fused relative pronoun" referring to the sounds. [the sounds that] I was hearing were..
- what I was hearing were the unmistakable sounds of a struggle what = a "fused relative pronoun" referring to the sounds.
- [the sounds that] I was hearing were..
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2 Answers
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what I was hearing were the unmistakable sounds of a struggle
what = a "fused relative pronoun" referring to the sounds.
[the sounds that] I was hearing were..
what = a "fused relative pronoun" referring to the sounds.
[the sounds that] I was hearing were..
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