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Hi,
I am confused regarding the correct usage of what. Is what considered Singular or plural subject. Spidey's notes has the following:
What (Singular or Plural?)
When “what” is the subject of a clause, it may either take a singular or plural verb.
“What” is singular when taken as the equivalent of “that which” or “the thing which”:
• I see what seems to be a dead tree.
“What” is plural when taken as the equivalent of “those which” or the “things which”:
• He sometimes makes what seem to be thoughtless mistakes.
When a clause that has “what” as its subject is itself the subject of a sentence, it may take a singular or plural verb. Most of these what clauses are singular, In fact, what clauses are usually singular even when the verb is a linking verb, such as be or seem, followed by a plural noun or a series of nouns:
• What she kept in her drawer was ten silver dollars.
• What truly commands respect is a large air force and a resolute foreign policy.
In some cases, you can treat a clause with what as the subject as singular or plural, depending on the emphasis you want to convey. In “What excite him most are money and power”, the implication is that money and power are distinct elements; in “What excites him most is money and power”, the implication is that money and power are a single entity.
The “what” clause as a whole is plural if it has a plural verb:
• What seem to be two dead trees are blocking the road.
https://www.bartleby.com/64/C001/072.html
I looked up on google and nothing useful comes up. Any clarification on this issue will be greatly appreciated.
I am confused regarding the correct usage of what. Is what considered Singular or plural subject. Spidey's notes has the following:
What (Singular or Plural?)
When “what” is the subject of a clause, it may either take a singular or plural verb.
“What” is singular when taken as the equivalent of “that which” or “the thing which”:
• I see what seems to be a dead tree.
“What” is plural when taken as the equivalent of “those which” or the “things which”:
• He sometimes makes what seem to be thoughtless mistakes.
When a clause that has “what” as its subject is itself the subject of a sentence, it may take a singular or plural verb. Most of these what clauses are singular, In fact, what clauses are usually singular even when the verb is a linking verb, such as be or seem, followed by a plural noun or a series of nouns:
• What she kept in her drawer was ten silver dollars.
• What truly commands respect is a large air force and a resolute foreign policy.
In some cases, you can treat a clause with what as the subject as singular or plural, depending on the emphasis you want to convey. In “What excite him most are money and power”, the implication is that money and power are distinct elements; in “What excites him most is money and power”, the implication is that money and power are a single entity.
The “what” clause as a whole is plural if it has a plural verb:
• What seem to be two dead trees are blocking the road.
https://www.bartleby.com/64/C001/072.html
I looked up on google and nothing useful comes up. Any clarification on this issue will be greatly appreciated.
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