sejpdw
Joined: 26 Oct 2005
Posts: 217
Location: Korea
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 Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 10:29 pm Post subject: the same number of |
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1. The same number of bones is/are found in all mamals.
2. The same number of atoms is/are lost through perpiration, urination, and defecation.
Q: Which is right, "is" or "are" in #1 and #2? |
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Bob S.
Joined: 29 Apr 2004
Posts: 1767
Location: So. Cal
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| Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 1:42 pm Post subject: Re: the same number of |
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| sejpdw wrote: |
1. The same number of bones is/are found in all mamals.
2. The same number of atoms is/are lost through perpiration, urination, and defecation.
Q: Which is right, "is" or "are" in #1 and #2? |
In a strict grammatical sense, you use "is." In the grammar form: a __blank1__ of __blank2__ (a pack of dogs, a pod of whales, a number of students), blank1 is a collective noun and generally is treated as singular. There are exceptions where you use a plural verb form, and they are different from American English to British English. But except for those rare instances, you use the singular verb form.
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