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christina_nguyen

Joined: 12 Oct 2005 Posts: 120
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Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 2:55 pm Post subject: TO BE |
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"There are currently no safe and tested medications for treating methamphetamine addiction."
How come ARE is used instead of IS?? I thought this sentence meant that we don't have any medication for methaphetamine addiction; therefore, IS should be used. |
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Mary W. Ng
Joined: 26 Jun 2006 Posts: 261
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Posted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 3:47 pm Post subject: Re: To be |
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| "There are currently no safe and tested medications for treating methamphetamine addiction." |
There is dummy subject; the real subject is the noun phrase no safe and tested medications for treating methamphetamine addiction; the simple subject is the plural noun medications and takes the plural verb are. _________________ Mary W. Ng
Helping students learn grammar
http:www.aimpublishing.com |
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christina_nguyen

Joined: 12 Oct 2005 Posts: 120
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Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 10:24 pm Post subject: |
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So, if the "real" subject is plural, ARE is used.
If the subject is singular, IS is used.
For example: there is no such word as "recordkeeping" in the dictionary.
Am I right??
ps. Thanks for your explanation. Appreciate it! |
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redset
Joined: 18 Mar 2006 Posts: 582 Location: England
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Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 9:00 am Post subject: |
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| christina_nguyen wrote: |
For example: there is no such word as "recordkeeping" in the dictionary.
Am I right?? |
Bingo!
(By which I mean yes, you're right ) |
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christina_nguyen

Joined: 12 Oct 2005 Posts: 120
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Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2006 9:14 am Post subject: |
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Thank you all for explaining!!!
Have a nice day!  |
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