Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

puzzle · Joined: 17 Oct 2005 Posts: 198

Dear teachers,
Can you help me with the following questions:
1. When to have the next meeting and whether to invite the director still_____ a mystery to us.
A. remain B. remains
2. One and a half apples___ left on the desk.
A. was left B. were left
Which is the better answer and why?
Thank you!

EnglishRaven · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 6:04 am Post subject:

What's your opinion first, puzzle?

Which would you choose and why?

- Jason
_________________
http://www.onlinEnglish.net
http://global-english.lefora.com

puzzle · Joined: 17 Oct 2005 Posts: 198

for the first question I'd like to choose "remain'' beause of 'and" but the answer given choose "remains',saying it's different aspects of the same thing.
for the second question I'd like to choose "were" beause it's more than one.but some reference books say "was"
I don't kow which is right.

2006 · Joined: 27 Nov 2006 Posts: 610

1...I would choose "remain" because, to me, they clearly are two things.
"...remain a mystery to us." is odd in that sentence. "...remain undecided." would be much better.
2..."were" is correct in that sentence.

EnglishRaven · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 3:41 am Post subject:

When to have the next meeting and whether to invite the director
I guess if this was considered an extended noun clause, it could call for "remains". I would be willing to bet, however, than in normal English usage most native speakers would instinctively say "remain" because of what feel like dual items preceding the main verb.

In the second example, I would always say "were".
In the books you referred to, did it explain why "was" could sometimes be used in this case?

Best,
- Jason
_________________
http://www.onlinEnglish.net
http://global-english.lefora.com