Results 1 to 7 of 7
Like Tree3Likes
  • 2 Post By riquecohen
  • 1 Post By bhaisahab

Thread: singular or plural

  1. #1
    yuanmingqing is offline Newbie
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Academic
      • Native Language:
      • Chinese
      • Home Country:
      • Taiwan
      • Current Location:
      • UK
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Posts
    24
    Teacher

    Default singular or plural

    which one is correct?
    1. The atmospherics of the talks ARE good. OR The atmospherics of the talks IS good.
    2. The premises IS used as a pub. OR The premises ARE used as a pub.

    Many thanks

    Yuanmingqing

  2. #2
    Afit is offline Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • Dutch
      • Home Country:
      • Europe
      • Current Location:
      • Europe
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Posts
    173
    Teacher

    Default Re: singular or plural

    Quote Originally Posted by yuanmingqing View Post
    which one is correct?
    1. The atmospherics of the talks ARE good. OR The atmospherics of the talks IS good.
    2. The premises IS used as a pub. OR The premises ARE used as a pub.

    Many thanks

    Yuanmingqing
    1. are
    2. are

  3. #3
    bhaisahab's Avatar
    bhaisahab is offline Moderator
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • British English
      • Home Country:
      • England
      • Current Location:
      • England
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Posts
    16,156
    Teacher

    Default Re: singular or plural

    Quote Originally Posted by yuanmingqing View Post
    which one is correct?
    1. The atmospherics of the talks ARE good. OR The atmospherics of the talks IS good.
    2. The premises IS used as a pub. OR The premises ARE used as a pub.

    Many thanks

    Yuanmingqing
    I am not familiar with that use of "atmospherics". Is it something particular to Thai speaking Barbadians living in Bangladesh?

  4. #4
    Afit is offline Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • Dutch
      • Home Country:
      • Europe
      • Current Location:
      • Europe
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Posts
    173
    Teacher

  5. #5
    riquecohen's Avatar
    riquecohen is offline Key Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • American English
      • Home Country:
      • United States
      • Current Location:
      • Brazil
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    4,103
    Teacher

    Default Re: singular or plural

    Regardless of the dictionary definition, this sentence does not sound natural. One would more likely hear "The atmosphere of the talks is good."
    Barb_D and bhaisahab like this.

  6. #6
    yuanmingqing is offline Newbie
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Academic
      • Native Language:
      • Chinese
      • Home Country:
      • Taiwan
      • Current Location:
      • UK
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Posts
    24
    Threadstarter / Original Poster
    Teacher

    Default Re: singular or plural

    Atmospherics used in that context sound strange, but this word was used by George Osborne to describe his talk with a Chinese official about London being a Yuan offshore trading centre. I read it from the Financial Times.

    yuanmingqing

  7. #7
    bhaisahab's Avatar
    bhaisahab is offline Moderator
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • British English
      • Home Country:
      • England
      • Current Location:
      • England
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Posts
    16,156
    Teacher

    Default Re: singular or plural

    Quote Originally Posted by yuanmingqing View Post
    Atmospherics used in that context sound strange, but this word was used by George Osborne to describe his talk with a Chinese official about London being a Yuan offshore trading centre. I read it from the Financial Times.

    yuanmingqing
    I don't accept George Osborne as an authority on the English language or on anything else for that matter.
    riquecohen likes this.

Similar Threads

  1. singular or plural?
    By polygon in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 03-Apr-2009, 19:54
  2. [General] singular or plural?
    By vil in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 07-Mar-2009, 03:11
  3. both + singular or plural?
    By Unregistered in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 04-Mar-2009, 15:25
  4. singular or plural?
    By renetta in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 24-Jan-2009, 15:43
  5. [General] singular or plural ?
    By vil in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 16-Sep-2008, 21:47

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0