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Subject:Re: IS or ARE From:Phil03 <philstokes03 -at- googlemail -dot- com> To:Kathleen MacDowell <kathleen -dot- eamd -at- gmail -dot- com> Date:Thu, 26 Jul 2012 21:42:25 +0700
Sorry, folks. I can't provide you with any 'authoritative' reference other than my own experience.
I'd imagine you might find it in something like Michael Swan's 'Practical English Usage' or maybe Hogue's 'Writing Academic English', two common source books for people learning English as a Second Language, but I can't guarantee it.
I'd say the best judge of whether my opinion is right or wrong is your own linguistic instinct. English, after all, is a matter of convention (i.e., common usage) rather than prescribed, 'laid-down-in-stone' rules. The language evolves in piecemeal, both through space and time, part of the reason why we occasionally (though not as often as some would have you believe) are forced to disagree.
On 26 Jul 2012, at 00:56, Kathleen MacDowell <kathleen -dot- eamd -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:
> Thanks, Phil! I had just started thinking I should look up 'groups' in Chicago.
>
> Or where did you find your reference?
>
> Kathleen
>
> On Tue, Jul 24, 2012 at 9:12 PM, Phil03 <philstokes03 -at- googlemail -dot- com> wrote:
>> On 25 Jul 2012, at 05:51, "Peter Neilson" <neilson -at- windstream -dot- net> wrote:
>>
>>> The words "of free service" is a prepositional phrase modifying the subject of the sentence, "months" which is plural.
>>>
>>> It is are. Is is wrong.
>>
>>
>> Not so fast there, Peter!
>>
>> Some expressions which refer to measurement or to amounts of time and money may be either singular or plural. When you want such expressions to mean items grouped together to form a single unit, use a singular verb. When you want such expressions to mean several separate items, use a plural verb. Compare these:
>>
>> One thousand dollars is too much to pay for a hair cut. (‘one thousand’ is a single number)
>>
>> Two weeks is a long time in politics.
>> (the time is meant to be understood as one period)
>>
>> Which is correct, 'is' or 'are' depends on whether the free service is one period or not. Can the months be separated? (I would think not, in this context) as in
>>
>> Use 'ARE' the situation is parallel to A:
>>
>> A, 4 hours are plenty for examinations (a 2-hour test at the beginning of the course, and a 2-hour test at the end)
>>
>> USE 'IS' if the situation is parallel to B:
>>
>> B. 4 hours is given to complete the test.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 25 Jul 2012, at 05:51, "Peter Neilson" <neilson -at- windstream -dot- net> wrote:
>>
>>> The words "of free service" is a prepositional phrase modifying the subject of the sentence, "months" which is plural.
>>>
>>> It is are. Is is wrong.
>>>
>>> I'll refrain from eliminating the passive voice.
>>>
>>> On Tue, 24 Jul 2012 18:40:40 -0400, Keith Mahoney <kamahoney1965 -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> My choice, M8.....go with "is"
>>>>
>>>> ~Mahoney
>>>>
>>>> On Tue, Jul 24, 2012 at 3:38 PM, John Posada <jposada99 -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Hi, guys...quick question...
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Two months of free service is given to a current customer
>>>>>
>>>>> or
>>>>>
>>>>> Two months of free service are given to a current customer
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> My thought is that "is" should be used as free service is given.
>>>>>
>>>>> Please no suggestions to rewriting or context, or needing more
>>>>> information...I have no choice than to use one of them the way it is and it
>>>>> goes out tomorrow, so I have a limited option for battles.
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> John Posada
>>>>> Rock portfolio: http://jposada.zenfolio.com/musicportfolio
>>>>> Twitter: @rockbandphotos
>>>>> Blog: http://jposada.zenfolio.com/blog
>>>>>
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>
>
>
> --
> Kathleen MacDowell
> kathleen -dot- eamd -at- gmail -dot- com
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