206-singular or plural verb?

[matilda]

Hi there

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

1-A pride of lions contain up to forty lions.
2-A pride of lions contains up to forty lions.

Regards

Matilda

[Fazzu]

"A pride of lions contains forty lions" is more better.

Perhaps, the second one.

[tom slocombe]

A pride of lions ( It) contains

A pride is treated as a single thing so --- 3rd person singular

[Fazzu]

Hi Tom,

Am I correct or wrong then?

[Teia]

Hi Fazzu


Yes, your choice is correct as Tom has already explained. It is a matter of subject - verb agreement regarding collective nouns.

A pride of lions contains up to 40 lions" - the verb is in the third person singular because "pride " is taken as a unit or a group.

A pride of lions[ a group of lions] is raising three orphan cubs.


Regards,

[Fazzu]

Thanks Teia. What is actually the third person singular?

Thanks again.

[Coffa]

Originally Posted by Fazzu

Thanks Teia. What is actually the third person singular?
Thanks again.

'I' am the first person singular; 'you' are the second person singular; 'he/she/it' is the third person singular; 'we' are the first person plural; 'you (lot)' are the second person plural; 'they' are the third person plural.

First, second or third person refers to your degree of distance from the person of whom you are speaking. 'I' am nearest to myself, of course, whereas 'you' are the person to whom I'm speaking, but I am farthest from 'him' - someone other than you or me.

[Teia]

Originally Posted by Fazzu

Thanks Teia. What is actually the third person singular?
Thanks again.

Hi

Coffa has just answered your question but I`d like to add that 3rd person singular is the person we [you and I] are speaking about :
3rd [third] person singular : he, she, it

he - masculine
she -feminine
it - masculine or feminine; it depends on the thing, phenomenon , object, etc. we speak about.
e.g. He is the boy I like.
She is the girl I like.
This is my cat. It [the cat] is my pet.
This is my dog. It [the dog] is my pet.
The storm is getting near. It [the storm] is getting near.


I hope it helps .

Best wishes

[Fazzu]

Thanks Coffa and Teia.I have really understood.By the way, are the narratives also the same? e.g First person narrator etc.

[Teia]

Originally Posted by Fazzu

Thanks Coffa and Teia.I have really understood.By the way, are the narratives also the same? e.g First person narrator etc.

Hi Fazzu

You are welcome.
I`ve made a correction in my previous message : 3rd person singular, that is IT : refers to a thing, object , a phenomenon, an animal, etc. [not a person]


As for your question related to persons used in a narrative here is what I found on web:

First Person, Second, or Third--What's the Difference?

First person narrative means writing from the "I" point of view. As in: I walked down the alley, I picked up the phone, I told Tony that he was going down if he didn't cough up the money by Saturday. I thought about it, then shook my head. I told myself I didn't care, but I picked up the paper anyway and glanced over the business column.

Third person narrative form is writing from the omniscent point of view. Here, you use the he-she form. As in: he walked down the alley, she picked up the phone, and Jason told Tony that he was going down if he didn't cough up the money. Mort thought about it, then shook his head. And Cleary told himself that he didn't care, but picked up the paper anyway.

Second-person is the least-used form in novels, mainly because it usually reads more awkwardly. Second person is the "you" point of view, the imperative (command) form, the way this web site is written. For example: "If you're looking for an agent, consider reading the info in the agent's file. Then check out the agents information and cautions on the following sites..."

I hope it helps

Keep in touch

Teia