Is or Are

[jack]

All of you are equally guilty. <--why is "are" not "is"?

All of the lake is out of bounds. <--why is "is" not "are"? and why is "bounds" not "bound"?

 

[MikeNewYork]

All of you are equally guilty. <--why is "are" not "is"?

All of the lake is out of bounds. <--why is "is" not "are"? and why is "bounds" not "bound"?

All is one of those strange pronouns that does not indicate number by itself. In other words, it is not, by its nature, always singular or always plural.

In the first sentence, it refers to more than one individual and has a plural sense.

In the second, it refers to the "entirety" of a single thing, and has a singular sense.

 

[jack]

All of the lake is out of bounds. <--why is "bounds" plural?

 

[MikeNewYork]

All of the lake is out of bounds. <--why is "bounds" plural?

In this use, "bounds" means "boundaries". This use of "bounds" is always plural.

 

[jack]

"Unless there are some new evidence." <--correct? Does "some" make "new evidence" plural? What is the subject and verb in this sentence?
"Unless there is some new evidence." <--incorrect?

 

[Tdol]

Evidence is usually uncountable, so 'is' would be correct. Somepeople use it in the plural, but that be 'some evidences are'. However, many speakers don't like this form.;-)

 

[jack]

"There are no cars down here." <--what does this mean?
"There is no car down here." <--meaning? There is not even one car down here?

 

[Casiopea]

"There are no cars down here." <--what does this mean?
"There is no car down here." <--meaning? There is not even one car down here?

I'd use,

There aren't /are not any cars down here.
There isn't / is not a car down here.

'not' is an adverb; when applied to the verb BE (i.e., is, are, am, etc), which means, exist, it serves to negate the verb BE, the existence of the car(s). :wink:

 

[jack]

Thanks.

There aren't /are not any cars down here. <--what does this mean?

There isn't / is not a car down here. <--so this means, not even one car down here?

 

[jack]

What's the difference in meaing between these two:

1. Are there any people here?
2. Is anyone here?
How would I use these questions? Can you give me an example? Thanks.

 

[Casiopea]

What's the difference in meaing between these two:

1. Are there any people here?
2. Is anyone here?
How would I use these questions? Can you give me an example? Thanks.

A. Is there anyone here? ('anyone' refers to people/any one person)
B. Are there any people here? (as opposed to, say, animals)

All the best,

 

[jack]

What's the difference in meaing between these ones? Can you give me an exmple how to use them?

1. There are no lives lost.
2. There is no life lost.

 

[Casiopea]

What's the difference in meaing between these ones? Can you give me an exmple how to use them?

1. There are no lives lost.
2. There is no life lost.

1. makes reference to individuals, each life times X people = lives, and 2. makes reference to one life or life in general.

All the best,

 

[jack]

1. There are no lives lost.
2. There is no life lost.
So it doesn't matter which one I use?

What about this? Does it matter which one I use to ask a question?
3. Are there any lives lost?
4. Is there any life lost?
What do these mean?

 

[jack]

What do these mean?

1. The seatle police is asking for your help.
2. The seatle polices are asking for your help.

 

[Francois]

There is only one police (department) at Seattle, so the first one is correct. One might imagine some context to make 2) work, but as a rule it is wrong.

FRC

 

[Casiopea]

There is only one police (department) at Seattle, so the first one is correct. One might imagine some context to make 2) work, but as a rule it is wrong.

FRC

Try,

in Seattle :wink:

All the best,

 

[Francois]

TY

 

[Casiopea]

TY

Try,

Thank you :wink:

 

[Francois]

Try,

You're welcome ;-)

FRC