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souvik101990
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Expert reply
18 Sep 2012, 12:50
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One-Singular or Plural confusion/massacre
One of the major pronoun SV agreement problem hovers around the wordsOne, None, Some etc...
The veritas 10 year anniversary problem seems to have started a chain of confusion.
I just wanted to chip in and clear some doubts (including mine) by some simple analogies.
Consider the following examples
1.In the popular sitcom 30 Rock, the one episode which was aired live WAS well appreciated.
This is a correct sentence as the subject is singular (one episode)
2. Boxing is a difficult sport; only one out of ten amateurs becomes pro.
Here 9 out of 10 boxers DO NOT become pro. We are talking about the ONLY one who does. So the verb needed is singular.
3. The popular sitcom 30 Rock was one of the few shows which were appreciated by the 40-50 year old demographic
Notice that "was" is used for singular verb 30 Rock but plural verb "were" is used for "few shows". The above sentence could also be re written as:
4. One of the few shows that were appreciated by the 40-50 year old demographic, 30 Rock was extremely popular.
Here few shows were appreciated, not just 30 Rock alone. Hence plural verb is needed.
Hope this is clarified by some gmat experts.
18 Sep 2012, 18:00
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My reply below is in response to a PM regarding this post. So please note that I do not know the details of the questions that raised this doubt. However, since this is a fairly generic topic that is often raised as a doubt, I will address it in terms of simple sentences and a couple official questions:
The basic strategy remains the same - Figure out what is the Subject - Verb pair. This is of utmost importance. And then decide the number of the verb. In the context of the expression "one of the", here is a general rule of thumb
The subject = one or none {of the plural noun} IS ALWAYS SINGULAR
Reason = The subject is a single entity - ONE or NONE - so it is singular.
For example:
Only one of the children plays in the park.
Here the author is talking about 1 child out of the many children.
Let's see this construction in play in this official question.
Now comes another construction that is typically a source of confusion. It is the expression - One of the plural noun that/who/which clause
As you will see below, the same rule applies here as well. You just need to apply it carefully.
For example:
One of the children who play in the park is responsible for bringing the ball.
Now lets simplify this sentence into its clauses:
1: One of the children is responsible for bringing the ball
2: who play in the park
In Clause 1, one of the children is singular and hence singular verb "is"
In Clause 2, the subject "who" refers to "children" which is plural and hence plural verb "play"
Now let's apply this on an official question.
I hope this clarifies your doubts.
For e-GMAT users, the concept of "one of the plural nouns" is discussed in the concept titled "Subject-Verb - Always Singular"
Regards,
Payal
The basic strategy remains the same - Figure out what is the Subject - Verb pair. This is of utmost importance. And then decide the number of the verb. In the context of the expression "one of the", here is a general rule of thumb
The subject = one or none {of the plural noun} IS ALWAYS SINGULAR
Reason = The subject is a single entity - ONE or NONE - so it is singular.
For example:
Only one of the children plays in the park.
Here the author is talking about 1 child out of the many children.
Let's see this construction in play in this official question.
Quote:
Not one of the potential investors is expected to make an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until a merger agreement is signed that includes a provision for penalties if the deal were not to be concluded.
A. is expected to make an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until a merger agreement is signed that includes a provision for penalties if the deal were
B. is expected to make an offer for buying First Interstate Bank until they sign a merger agreement including a provision for penalties if the deal was
C. is expected to make an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until a merger agreement be signed by them with a provision for penalties if the deal were
D. are expected to make an offer for buying First Interstate Bank until it signs a merger agreement with a provision for penalties included if the deal was
E. are expected to be making an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until they sign a merger agreement including a provision for penalties if the deal were
A. is expected to make an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until a merger agreement is signed that includes a provision for penalties if the deal were
B. is expected to make an offer for buying First Interstate Bank until they sign a merger agreement including a provision for penalties if the deal was
C. is expected to make an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until a merger agreement be signed by them with a provision for penalties if the deal were
D. are expected to make an offer for buying First Interstate Bank until it signs a merger agreement with a provision for penalties included if the deal was
E. are expected to be making an offer to buy First Interstate Bank until they sign a merger agreement including a provision for penalties if the deal were
Identify the subject for the verb - "is expected". And determine if it should be singular or plural. When ready, highlight the below explanation:
Here notice that "not one" is singular. Essentially the subject is: Not one potential investor of the many potential investors. Correct answer is A
Now comes another construction that is typically a source of confusion. It is the expression - One of the plural noun that/who/which clause
As you will see below, the same rule applies here as well. You just need to apply it carefully.
For example:
One of the children who play in the park is responsible for bringing the ball.
Now lets simplify this sentence into its clauses:
1: One of the children is responsible for bringing the ball
2: who play in the park
In Clause 1, one of the children is singular and hence singular verb "is"
In Clause 2, the subject "who" refers to "children" which is plural and hence plural verb "play"
Now let's apply this on an official question.
Quote:
With its plan to develop seven and a half acres of shore land, Cleveland is but one of a large number of communities on the Great Lakes that is looking to its waterfront as a way to improve the quality of urban life and attract new businesses.
(A) is looking to its waterfront as a way to improve the quality of urban life and attract
(B) are looking at their waterfronts as a way they can improve the quality of urban life and attract
(C) are looking to their waterfronts to improve the quality of urban life and attract
(D) is looking at its waterfront to improve the quality of urban life and attract
(E) are looking to its waterfront as a way of improving the quality of urban life and attracting
(A) is looking to its waterfront as a way to improve the quality of urban life and attract
(B) are looking at their waterfronts as a way they can improve the quality of urban life and attract
(C) are looking to their waterfronts to improve the quality of urban life and attract
(D) is looking at its waterfront to improve the quality of urban life and attract
(E) are looking to its waterfront as a way of improving the quality of urban life and attracting
Identify the subject for the verb - "is looking". And determine if the verb should be singular or plural. When ready, highlight the below explanation:
Let's simplify this sentence into individual clauses
1: ...Cleveland is but one of a large number of communities on the Great Lakes
2: that are looking to its waterfront...
In Clause 1, subject-verb pair is straightforward - Cleveland is
In Clause 2, subject "that" refers to plural "communities" and hence is plural.
1: ...Cleveland is but one of a large number of communities on the Great Lakes
2: that are looking to its waterfront...
In Clause 1, subject-verb pair is straightforward - Cleveland is
In Clause 2, subject "that" refers to plural "communities" and hence is plural.
I hope this clarifies your doubts.
For e-GMAT users, the concept of "one of the plural nouns" is discussed in the concept titled "Subject-Verb - Always Singular"
Regards,
Payal
19 Sep 2012, 10:46
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As requested by the moderator, I am chiming in here.
I don't see any disagreement.
There is only one rule: Identify the subject for the verb in question.
e.g.
- Only one of the managers is working on that project.
'is' here refers to the one who is working on that project.
- He is one of the managers who are working on that project.
There are some managers who are working on that project. He is one of them.
- One of the managers who are working on that project is my boss.
Notice that 'one' corresponds to 'is' and 'managers' corresponds to 'are working'
As for your examples souvik, they are fine.
I don't see any disagreement.
There is only one rule: Identify the subject for the verb in question.
e.g.
- Only one of the managers is working on that project.
'is' here refers to the one who is working on that project.
- He is one of the managers who are working on that project.
There are some managers who are working on that project. He is one of them.
- One of the managers who are working on that project is my boss.
Notice that 'one' corresponds to 'is' and 'managers' corresponds to 'are working'
As for your examples souvik, they are fine.
