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Old 23-Dec-2003, 02:58
raelynn
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Default Proper agreement

Hi I need help in the following sentences that will show proper agreement:

1. A little child often (see, sees) more than you think. see, is this correct?
2. The phenomena associated with a total eclipse of the sun ( was, were) studied by scientists from all over the world. was-- is the proper agreement.

3. The bus with twenty-five children, three men, and two women ( was, were) studied by scientists from all over the world. were-- is the proper agreement

4. The army, supported by airplanes and artillery, ( has, have) won the battle. has --is the proper agreement.

I am right or wrong?
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Old 23-Dec-2003, 04:50
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Default Re: Proper agreement

Quote:
Originally Posted by raelynn
1. A little child often (see, sees) more than you think. see, is this correct?
A little child sees. (Third person singular)

Quote:
Originally Posted by raelynn
2. The phenomena associated with a total eclipse of the sun ( was, were) studied by scientists from all over the world. was-- is the proper agreement.
The phenomena was. (Third person singular)

Quote:
Originally Posted by raelynn
3. The bus with twenty-five children, three men, and two women ( was, were) studied by scientists from all over the world. were-- is the proper agreement
The bus was. (Third person singular)

Quote:
Originally Posted by raelynn
4. The army, supported by airplanes and artillery, ( has, have) won the battle. has --is the proper agreement.
The army was. (Third person singular--army is a mass noun.)

:)
  #3  
Old 23-Dec-2003, 23:38
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'Phenomenon' is the accepted singular and 'phenomena' the plural, but many native speakers use the plural form as singular in BE.
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Old 24-Dec-2003, 11:07
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Oops! I should have said the phenomena were.

It's the phenomenon was or the phenomena were. (The singular is phenomenon and the plural is phenomena.)

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Old 25-Dec-2003, 00:31
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