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#1
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| When I read other people's uses of is and are, I get confused as they always sound wrong to me. Can anyone explain in very simple terms how to use the correct one? Example a) A large range of books is available b) A large range of books are available I would use b when speaking or writing, as it sound correct to me; a just doesn't seem to flow when read out loud. It sounds odd to me. I assume that "a large range of books is avaiable", is correct because range is singular? So, I could say, "manybooks are available",? Maybe? a) There is a huge number of people in the world b) There are a huge number of people in the world In the above, would a be correct again? Yet again, to me, b sounds correct. The more I think, the more lost I become. Anyone? Can you explain it simply so I can apply the rule in future? Many thanks Zoltar. |
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#2
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#3
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| With regard to their use in the constructions 'the number of +plural noun' and 'a number of + plural noun', it is not so difficult if you just look whether the phrase begins the 'the' or 'a'. Take: The number of people affected remains small. Here, the number of + plural noun is used with a singular verb. (The noun 'number' is the principal noun and is taken to agree with the verb, rather than the noun 'people'.) A number of people remain to be contacted. Here, with 'a number of + plural noun' , it is used with a plural verb. In this case, it is the noun 'people' that acts as the prinicipal noun and with which the verb agrees. The reason is: 'a number of' acts as if it were a single word, in the same way as 'some' or 'several'. So: A number of/some/several people remain to be contacted. Rule: If 'A number', then the verb agrees with the noun that comes after 'of' If 'The number', then the verb is always singular. Last edited by David L.; 28-Mar-2008 at 16:32. |
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#4
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| Many thanks to you both... understand this a little better now. It would appear that this is one of those things where, when spoken, it sounds different, like when people say of instead of have: really they are saying 'ave, but I see lots of people on the Internet writing, 'I would of done this...', which I know is wrong. I was gettinf confused because the is / are choice is not always obvious at first (well, not to a person who's Mother Tongue isn'y English). I think I have it now, but if anyone can clarify a very simple rule to define if I use is or are, I would like very much to know it. There are many things I don't yet understand, so I thank you very much for your help. Zoltar. |
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#5
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| Rule: Is the subject of the sentence regarded as a plural noun, or singular? If singular, use 'is' If plural use 'are' verb 'to be' : he/she/it/a dog/the cat is we/you/they/people/dogs are EXCEPT: I am The difficulty is understanding 'countable nouns' and 'uncountable nouns' Last edited by David L.; 28-Mar-2008 at 23:39. |
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