Originally Posted by ian2
I would say: carries(editorial) and present(fact based texts)
[just an avid English learner}
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Thread: singular or plural?
- 11-Jul-2007, 06:25 #1
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singular or plural? Editorials are different from fact-based texts in that the former carries (or carry ) attitude and opinions of the writer whereas the latter only presents (or present) facts.
Editorials are plural. But if we use "former" to stand for "editorials", should we use "carries" or "carry"? Thanks.
- 11-Jul-2007, 06:34 #2
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Re: singular or plural?
- 11-Jul-2007, 07:31 #3
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Re: singular or plural? Disclaimer: I am not a teacher.
Blouen,
allow me to say otherwise.
Originally Posted by ian2
- 11-Jul-2007, 23:05 #4
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Re: singular or plural? Editorials are different from fact-based texts in that the former carries (or carry ) attitude and opinions of the writer whereas the latter only presents (or present) facts.
the former [group] = singular
the latter [group] = singular
I would go for "carry" and "present".
- 11-Jul-2007, 23:30 #5
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Re: singular or plural? Logically I would go for "carry" and "present" too. But the problem I have is that when we use "former" and "latter", we are talking about a choice between two, that is, is it A or B? You are tempted to treat "the former" as singular. So we are supposed to say: Originally Posted by Anglika
The Old Man and the Sea and The Tale of Two Cities are two books. The former is... and the latter is.... But
The teachers and the students were very tired. The former were... and the latter were...? Thanks again.
- 12-Jul-2007, 00:00 #6
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Re: singular or plural? I am so sorry. I've had a long day today! Originally Posted by ian2 
Of course it should be carry and present.
- 12-Jul-2007, 01:12 #7
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Re: singular or plural? "Editorials" is plural, and "fact-based texts" is plural. Originally Posted by ian2
~R
- 12-Jul-2007, 01:15 #8
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Re: singular or plural? Yes! Originally Posted by RonBee
Sorry I was wrong up there, I see it's "editorials" but when I wrote it I typed "Editorial" only and based my answer there.
- 12-Jul-2007, 01:34 #9
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Re: singular or plural? I hate to disagree, but I'd write it so that the verbs agree with the subjects in the clauses they are in: the former carries and the latter presents.
I have no reason to think that the plural forms are wrong, I just like the sound of it better this way. Sometimes, in English, that's good enough.
- 12-Jul-2007, 01:39 #10
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Re: singular or plural? 
Mykwyner is right. The subjects are former and latter and the verbs should be carries and presents.
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