is verse are

VydorScope · 05-13-2012, 07:34 AM

In this sentence...

Each of these commands are given ...
Each of these commands is given ...

Are SOUNDS more correct to me then is, but does the "Each" make the singular use of "is" the correct one? This is for a formal article, not any of my fiction works.

Thanks!

Bilbo1967 · 05-13-2012, 07:49 AM

I don't think that I would notice anything amiss with either of those to be honest. Neither of them look glaringly wrong.

I think that I agree with you that "is" is more grammatically correct, but I wouldn't swear on it.

Dr. Drib · 05-13-2012, 07:51 AM

'Each' is singular.

'of these commands' is (I believe) a prepositional phrase. A prepositional phrase will never contain the subject of a sentence. One can mentally remove it.

The result:

'Each is given.'

This leaves a singular subject with the attendant singular verb. They are now in agreement.

Don

VydorScope · 05-13-2012, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

'Each' is singular.

'of these commands' is (I believe) a prepositional phrase. A prepositional phrase will never contain the subject of a sentence. One can mentally remove it.

The result:

'Each is given.'

This leaves a singular subject with the attendant singular verb.

Don

Thanks

That is what I was thinking, but "are" sounds more right. I think the "s" in commands is probably causing the "sounds right" check to fail.

kennyc · 05-13-2012, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

'Each' is singular.

'of these commands' is (I believe) a prepositional phrase. A prepositional phrase will never contain the subject of a sentence. One can mentally remove it.

The result:

'Each is given.'

This leaves a singular subject with the attendant singular verb. They are now in agreement.

Don

I concur!

HarryT · 05-13-2012, 07:55 AM

"Is" is grammatically correct, but "are" is absolutely fine, too, in the context of everyday English. Same with "none"; grammatically it's singular, but everyday usage frequently treats it as plural.

None of us is a great writer <--- grammatically correct
None of us are great writers <--- grammatically wrong, but popularly acceptable

Dr. Drib · 05-13-2012, 08:03 AM

Sounds can definitely make a difference in determining how a possessive is marked, such as in names. For example, in the last names below

Sailers
Dickens

one would not normally write (as a singular possessive) this:

Sailers's
Dickens's

as it becomes a 'difficult word to pronounce. In my studies on this (when I was teaching Fussiness Grammar at a local business college - in addition to my high school English teaching), it becomes a matter of choice. Say the word Dickens's or Sailers'sout loud. It becomes readily apparent that they sound awkward.

Rather, what the 'experts' have stated is that one should write the singular possessive in this way (using specifically the two examples from above):

Sailers'
Dickens'

One is still referring to the singular possessive (as well as relying upon context, of course).

HarryT · 05-13-2012, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

one would not normally write (as a singular possessive) this:

Sailers's
Dickens's

as it becomes a 'difficult word to pronounce. In my studies on this (when I was teaching Fussiness Grammar at a local business college - in addition to my high school English teaching), it becomes a matter of choice. Say the word Dickens's or Sailers'sout loud. It becomes readily apparent that they sound awkward.

Rather, what the 'experts' have stated is that one should write the singular possessive in this way (using specifically the two examples from above):

Sailers'
Dickens'

One is still referring to the singular possessive (as well as relying upon context, of course).

This is actually a point on which "the authorities" disagree. There is a school of thought (including the "house style" of many academic journals) which says that for a proper name ending in "s", the "'s" should be added: thus "Dickens's novels". At the end of the day you either:

1. Do what seems best to you.
2. If submitting a paper to a journal, follow the rules that are required by that journal.

Dr. Drib · 05-13-2012, 08:11 AM

The way we speak and the way we write are two different beasts.

Language is a 'living' thing, changing daily. Writing, on the other hand, takes a longer period of time for change to occur.

.....which is one reason we have slang. Ain't is not generally acceptable in educated circles and is looked upon with distaste. (And I'm exposing my own generational and educational bias here.) However, it is very much in acceptance in certain socio-economic areas of my country (USA) and, in many cases, represents a positive way in which individuals communicate.

Don

Dr. Drib · 05-13-2012, 08:13 AM

Hahahaha - Dear God! - I wrote 'Fussiness Grammar.'

Of course, I meant BUSINESS GRAMMAR!!!

Don

HarryT · 05-13-2012, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

.....which is one reason we have slang. Ain't is not generally acceptable in educated circles and is looked upon with distaste. (And I'm exposing my own generational and educational bias here.) However, it is very much in acceptance in certain socio-economic areas of my country (USA) and, in many cases, represents a positive way in which individuals communicate.

Interestingly, the word "ain't" was an affectation widely adopted in "upper-class" British English in the early 20th century. You'll see this in the books of P.G. Wodehouse and Dorothy L. Sayers, for example. Both Bertie Wooster and Lord Peter Wimsey use "ain't" in their everyday speech.

Dr. Drib · 05-13-2012, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Interestingly, the word "ain't" was an affectation widely adopted in "upper-class" British English in the early 20th century. You'll see this in the books of P.G. Wodehouse and Dorothy L. Sayers, for example. Both Bertie Wooster and Lord Peter Wimsey use "ain't" in their everyday speech.

I didn't realize that.

In my country, it meant one lived in a trailer park and drove a pickup truck, and smoked Marlboro cigarettes. One's underwear had skid marks, and the picking of one's nose did not go unnoticed in polite circles.

Don

NOTE: Seriously, Harry, I wasn't aware of the cultural use of the word in British English society.

VydorScope · 05-13-2012, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Hahahaha - Dear God! - I wrote 'Fussiness Grammar.'

Of course, I meant BUSINESS GRAMMAR!!!

Don

HA! I think that slip up was very telling!

HarryT · 05-13-2012, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

NOTE: Seriously, Harry, I wasn't aware of the cultural use of the word in British English society.

Here's an example from "Whose Body" (the first "Lord Peter Wimsey" novel):

Quote:

He screwed his monocle into his eye, adding: ‘I see you’re troubled here with the soot blowing in. Beastly nuisance, ain’t it? I get it, too – spoils all my books, you know. Here, don’t you trouble, if you don’t care about lookin’ at it.’

gmw · 05-13-2012, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

[...]
None of us is a great writer <--- grammatically correct
None of us are great writers <--- grammatically wrong, but popularly acceptable

Harry, remember the subforum on which you are posting, you could be more generous with your examples.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Hahahaha - Dear God! - I wrote 'Fussiness Grammar.'

Of course, I meant BUSINESS GRAMMAR!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by VydorScope

HA! I think that slip up was very telling!

I didn't even think it was a slip!

05-13-2012, 07:34 AM	#1
VydorScope Wizard Posts: 3,418 Karma: 35207650 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: iPad	is verse are In this sentence... Each of these commands are given ... Each of these commands is given ... Are SOUNDS more correct to me then is, but does the "Each" make the singular use of "is" the correct one? This is for a formal article, not any of my fiction works. Thanks!

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05-13-2012, 07:49 AM	#2
Bilbo1967 Not scared! Posts: 13,424 Karma: 81011643 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Midlands, UK Device: Kindle Paperwhite 10, Huawei M5 10	I don't think that I would notice anything amiss with either of those to be honest. Neither of them look glaringly wrong. I think that I agree with you that "is" is more grammatically correct, but I wouldn't swear on it.

05-13-2012, 07:51 AM	#3
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,043 Karma: 56751447 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One	'Each' is singular. 'of these commands' is (I believe) a prepositional phrase. A prepositional phrase will never contain the subject of a sentence. One can mentally remove it. The result: 'Each is given.' This leaves a singular subject with the attendant singular verb. They are now in agreement. Don

05-13-2012, 07:55 AM	#6
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	"Is" is grammatically correct, but "are" is absolutely fine, too, in the context of everyday English. Same with "none"; grammatically it's singular, but everyday usage frequently treats it as plural. None of us is a great writer <--- grammatically correct None of us are great writers <--- grammatically wrong, but popularly acceptable

05-13-2012, 08:03 AM	#7
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,043 Karma: 56751447 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One	Sounds can definitely make a difference in determining how a possessive is marked, such as in names. For example, in the last names below Sailers Dickens one would not normally write (as a singular possessive) this: Sailers's Dickens's as it becomes a 'difficult word to pronounce. In my studies on this (when I was teaching Fussiness Grammar at a local business college - in addition to my high school English teaching), it becomes a matter of choice. Say the word Dickens's or Sailers'sout loud. It becomes readily apparent that they sound awkward. Rather, what the 'experts' have stated is that one should write the singular possessive in this way (using specifically the two examples from above): Sailers' Dickens' One is still referring to the singular possessive (as well as relying upon context, of course).

05-13-2012, 08:11 AM	#9
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,043 Karma: 56751447 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One	The way we speak and the way we write are two different beasts. Language is a 'living' thing, changing daily. Writing, on the other hand, takes a longer period of time for change to occur. .....which is one reason we have slang. Ain't is not generally acceptable in educated circles and is looked upon with distaste. (And I'm exposing my own generational and educational bias here.) However, it is very much in acceptance in certain socio-economic areas of my country (USA) and, in many cases, represents a positive way in which individuals communicate. Don

05-13-2012, 08:13 AM	#10
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,043 Karma: 56751447 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One	Hahahaha - Dear God! - I wrote 'Fussiness Grammar.' Of course, I meant BUSINESS GRAMMAR!!! Don

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