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Learner33
Joined: 30 Oct 2005
Posts: 17
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 Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 6:22 am Post subject: A number and The number.Dennis Oliver only please. |
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Hi,
Kindly examine the following sentence :
-9% of the girls listen to music and the same number (watches/watch)
TV.
Should we treat (the same number) here as a singular or a plural subject?which is the best answer here please?
Thank you very much.
Last edited by Learner33 on Thu Dec 01, 2005 9:12 am; edited 1 time in total |
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konabob
Joined: 28 Nov 2005
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 12:43 pm Post subject: 9% of girls |
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| The "same number" indicates 9% of the girls so it is plural and therefore watch not watches. |
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Kristea
Joined: 17 Nov 2005
Posts: 167
Location: Minneapolis, MN USA
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| Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 12:53 pm Post subject: Re: 9% of girls |
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The correct verb is "watch." However, in the original sentence...
-9% of the girls listen to music and the same number (watches/watch)
TV.
...the noun you are agreeing the verb with is number. It refers to 9%, but agreement is with the noun number.
This is actually two complete sentences joined with a coordinating conjunction. I teach my students to puncuate as follows.
"9% of the girls listen to music, and the same number watch TV.
- Kristi
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"That man is a success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much." R.L. Stevenson |
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