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devinawilliam83
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quantity expressions Updated on: 29 Feb 2012, 09:31
Originally posted by devinawilliam83 on 27 Feb 2012, 21:38.
Last edited by devinawilliam83 on 29 Feb 2012, 09:31, edited 1 time in total.
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:?: Can somebody please throw some light on SVA for quantity expressions?

- 5 litres of milk is in the fridge? or 5 litres of milk are in the fridge

Ques : does the verb agree with the sunbject in the of phrase?
Ques : what is the treatment for plural quantity expressions eg. Litre vs litres. Is there a difference in treatment?

Here's what I understand. For quantity expressions the verb should agree with the subject in the Of phrase

5 litres of milk is in the fridge

BUT,

What if the sentence lacks the of phrase eg

- Water is essential for cooking. 5 litres [IS OR ARE?] required for this daily.

what will the verb in this case be is or are?

Also see
- A half dozen files banded together [cause or causes? ] work fatigue
- half dozen files banded together [cause or causes? ] work fatigue

Any thoughts?

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quantity expressions 28 Feb 2012, 10:39
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What is in the fridge? It's 5 litres of milk.
Milk is singular, hence it will use "is"
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quantity expressions 28 Feb 2012, 21:21
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Please explain in more clear way
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quantity expressions 29 Feb 2012, 10:52
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Devina

You ask some excellent questions.

First of all, with units of measurement (5 liters, ten dollars, 14.6 kg) --- according to dominant scientific convention, these nouns are construed as singular subjects, regardless of whether or not they are immediately followed by a prepositional phrase. Thus

Five liters of milk is in the refrigerator.

Oil is essential for stir-frying. Three tablespoons is quite enough for frying these wontons.

Ten dollars is too much to pay for a cup of coffee.

Only 14.6 kg of silver was extracted from the mine shaft.

That's true for units of physical measurement, both scientific units (lt-yr, ohm, rad) as well as ordinary grocery-market units (pints, quarts, ounces, gallons).

Now, by contrast, a "dozen" or "half-dozen" -- those are not a unit of physical measurement. In fact, both of those are just plain ordinary numbers. A "dozen" means 12, and a "half-dozen" means 6. They are 100% interchangeable with their respective numbers. In fact, that's an excellent way to hear what's right --- replace "dozen" or "half-dozen" with "12" or "6". (The indefinite article "a" in front of it doesn't matter at all.)

We know that . . . .

Six files banded together cause work fatigue.

. . . is correct, so . . . .

A half-dozen files banded together cause work fatigue.

. . . is also correct.

Does all this make sense? Please let me know if you have any further questions.

Mike :)
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quantity expressions 29 Feb 2012, 21:55
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Mike, This very helpful.Thankyou so much. +1

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Devina

You ask some excellent questions.

First of all, with units of measurement (5 liters, ten dollars, 14.6 kg) --- according to dominant scientific convention, these nouns are construed as singular subjects, regardless of whether or not they are immediately followed by a prepositional phrase. Thus

Five liters of milk is in the refrigerator.

Oil is essential for stir-frying. Three tablespoons is quite enough for frying these wontons.

Ten dollars is too much to pay for a cup of coffee.

Only 14.6 kg of silver was extracted from the mine shaft.

That's true for units of physical measurement, both scientific units (lt-yr, ohm, rad) as well as ordinary grocery-market units (pints, quarts, ounces, gallons).

Now, by contrast, a "dozen" or "half-dozen" -- those are not a unit of physical measurement. In fact, both of those are just plain ordinary numbers. A "dozen" means 12, and a "half-dozen" means 6. They are 100% interchangeable with their respective numbers. In fact, that's an excellent way to hear what's right --- replace "dozen" or "half-dozen" with "12" or "6". (The indefinite article "a" in front of it doesn't matter at all.)

We know that . . . .

Six files banded together cause work fatigue.

. . . is correct, so . . . .

A half-dozen files banded together cause work fatigue.

. . . is also correct.

Does all this make sense? Please let me know if you have any further questions.

Mike :)
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quantity expressions 06 Aug 2015, 06:01
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As we know that
A number of things =plural
The number of things =singular.

So in this also ,
can we take it as
Ä half dozen =plural
half dozen=singular
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quantity expressions 16 May 2018, 17:26
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Hi,

Nice explanation and good learning for me.
But I am not sure the tablespoon is physical measurement which is universally accepted.
I think "three tablespoons are...." is much better.
Is there no difference between "five dollar is" and "five dollars is"?
Please elaborate me if I am wrong.
mikemcgarry
Devina

You ask some excellent questions.

First of all, with units of measurement (5 liters, ten dollars, 14.6 kg) --- according to dominant scientific convention, these nouns are construed as singular subjects, regardless of whether or not they are immediately followed by a prepositional phrase. Thus

Five liters of milk is in the refrigerator.

Oil is essential for stir-frying. Three tablespoons is quite enough for frying these wontons.

Ten dollars is too much to pay for a cup of coffee.

Only 14.6 kg of silver was extracted from the mine shaft.

That's true for units of physical measurement, both scientific units (lt-yr, ohm, rad) as well as ordinary grocery-market units (pints, quarts, ounces, gallons).

Now, by contrast, a "dozen" or "half-dozen" -- those are not a unit of physical measurement. In fact, both of those are just plain ordinary numbers. A "dozen" means 12, and a "half-dozen" means 6. They are 100% interchangeable with their respective numbers. In fact, that's an excellent way to hear what's right --- replace "dozen" or "half-dozen" with "12" or "6". (The indefinite article "a" in front of it doesn't matter at all.)

We know that . . . .

Six files banded together cause work fatigue.

. . . is correct, so . . . .

A half-dozen files banded together cause work fatigue.

. . . is also correct.

Does all this make sense? Please let me know if you have any further questions.

Mike :)
Show more

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Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block above for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
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