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  #1  
Old 23-May-2006, 08:14
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Default Need an urgent advice on subject verb agreement, thanks teachers. ^^

Dear teachers,

I was wondering if I should use "is called" or "are called" in the following blank. Please explain to me too.Thanks soooooo much for advising.

Cooked rice in bamboo leaves ___________ rice dumplings.

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Old 23-May-2006, 08:46
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Default Re: Need an urgent advice on subject verb agreement, thanks teachers. ^^

"cooked" is an adjective and "in bamboo leaves" is a prepositional phrase. Neither can function as a subject, so neither agrees in number with the verb. Only subjects agree in number with the verb. Subjects are nouns.

EX: Rice is called ...
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Old 23-May-2006, 08:47
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Default Re: Need an urgent advice on subject verb agreement, thanks teachers. ^^

That is, "Cooked rice is called ... ."
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Old 23-May-2006, 08:55
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Default Re: Need an urgent advice on subject verb agreement, thanks teachers. ^^

Thanks for your advice, teacher Casiopea.

So, how can I rephrase the sentence if I need to use "is called"? Should I omit the "s" in rice dumplings? Please advice, thanks again.
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Old 23-May-2006, 09:14
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Default Re: Need an urgent advice on subject verb agreement, thanks teachers. ^^

Bamboo leaves filled with rice are called rice dumplings.
Cooked rice balls in bamboo leaves are called rice dumplings.
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Old 23-May-2006, 16:53
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Default Re: Need an urgent advice on subject verb agreement, thanks teachers. ^^

Thank you soooo much for rephrasing the sentence for me. All the best, itsgoobie ^^
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