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24 Sep 2016, 11:05
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hello Experts
There are some subjects that could be singular or plural and I am confused how to identify them.
Few examples:
Consider the below sentence
a) Repairing the foreclosed properties that are in bad condition are the latest initiative by the bank to stay competitive in the real estate market in which selling homes is not a easy task
In this q -: Repairing the foreclosed properties is a phrase and treated as the subject of this sentence. The verb of the above sentence is "ARE".
Since the subject is a phrase and phrases are singular, ccan we treat this as Singular thus making the verb "IS" ?
In the same sentence, selling homes is a phrase and the subject here.. so here it is singular although we are talking about selling MULTIPLE HOMES. How is the verb singular "IS" ?
b) Reading mystery books gives me thrill - Here - one is reading multiple mystery books - not just one.. So why is it SINGULAR gives ? Although give sounds awkward but by the subject refers to multiple books.
c) Rising commercial real estate rates, a gauge used to determine the strength of the market, are likely to deter people from buying homes - In this sentence, Rising commercial real estate rates is a phrase and thus should be Singular.. So the verb should be IS and not ARE? Although multiple rates are rising but isn't a phrase singular just like Reading mystery books is Singular?
This is confusing. Can someone please help explain how to identify singular or plural subjects especially when it comes to phrases.
Thanks v much!!
There are some subjects that could be singular or plural and I am confused how to identify them.
Few examples:
Consider the below sentence
a) Repairing the foreclosed properties that are in bad condition are the latest initiative by the bank to stay competitive in the real estate market in which selling homes is not a easy task
In this q -: Repairing the foreclosed properties is a phrase and treated as the subject of this sentence. The verb of the above sentence is "ARE".
Since the subject is a phrase and phrases are singular, ccan we treat this as Singular thus making the verb "IS" ?
In the same sentence, selling homes is a phrase and the subject here.. so here it is singular although we are talking about selling MULTIPLE HOMES. How is the verb singular "IS" ?
b) Reading mystery books gives me thrill - Here - one is reading multiple mystery books - not just one.. So why is it SINGULAR gives ? Although give sounds awkward but by the subject refers to multiple books.
c) Rising commercial real estate rates, a gauge used to determine the strength of the market, are likely to deter people from buying homes - In this sentence, Rising commercial real estate rates is a phrase and thus should be Singular.. So the verb should be IS and not ARE? Although multiple rates are rising but isn't a phrase singular just like Reading mystery books is Singular?
This is confusing. Can someone please help explain how to identify singular or plural subjects especially when it comes to phrases.
Thanks v much!!
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24 Sep 2016, 11:46
Kudos
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cuhmoon
All the examples you have mentioned consists of a gerund subject phrase - subject phrases with gerunds are ALWAYS SINGULAR !
Repairing the foreclosed properties that are in bad condition are the latest initiative by the bank to stay competitive in the real estate market in which selling homes is not a easy task... WRONG. The verb should be "is".
24 Sep 2016, 11:53
Kudos
Bookmarks
VERB-ING functions:
1. Verb-ING word as a noun
2. Verb-ING word as an adjective
3.Verb-ING as a verb with the helping verb.
1. Verbing words funciton as nouns that denote an action.
EX: Growing plants IS my hobby.
Here growing is the verb-ing noun because the word acts as a noun and hence the subject of the clause, but it also denotes the action.
VERB-ING nouns is that they are always SINGULAR. Reading mystery books gives me thrill..
2.VERB-ING as an adjective.
Verb-ing words function as adjectives.here it provides extra information of a particular noun entity...When the verb-ing word acts as an adjective, it doesn't have bearing on the verb of the sentence.The verb must agree in number and makes sense with subject of the sentence.
ex: Growing plants in your backyard need more care..
Here growing is adjective that presents a characteristic of the plants...what kind of plants need more care ? The plants that are growing.
3.VERB-ing as a verb with a helping verb:
These verb-ing along with helping verbs function as verbs...
ex: I am growing banana plants in my farm...here growing is not able to tell the tense of the word but it is helping verb that tells the tense...
Hope it helps...
1. Verb-ING word as a noun
2. Verb-ING word as an adjective
3.Verb-ING as a verb with the helping verb.
1. Verbing words funciton as nouns that denote an action.
EX: Growing plants IS my hobby.
Here growing is the verb-ing noun because the word acts as a noun and hence the subject of the clause, but it also denotes the action.
VERB-ING nouns is that they are always SINGULAR. Reading mystery books gives me thrill..
2.VERB-ING as an adjective.
Verb-ing words function as adjectives.here it provides extra information of a particular noun entity...When the verb-ing word acts as an adjective, it doesn't have bearing on the verb of the sentence.The verb must agree in number and makes sense with subject of the sentence.
ex: Growing plants in your backyard need more care..
Here growing is adjective that presents a characteristic of the plants...what kind of plants need more care ? The plants that are growing.
3.VERB-ing as a verb with a helping verb:
These verb-ing along with helping verbs function as verbs...
ex: I am growing banana plants in my farm...here growing is not able to tell the tense of the word but it is helping verb that tells the tense...
Hope it helps...
