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[ClarissaMach]

Could you please correct the text below?

The number of private cars in use in Brazil has increased significantly in the last decades. Since the number of streets, avenues and roads has not increased in the same pace, congestion has turned into one of the major problems of Brazilian big cities such as Rio de Janeiro and S�o Paulo.

Despite this, whenever Brazilian economy faces hard times, one of the actions usually taken by governmental officials to stimulate economy is temporarily suspending taxes on automobile acquisitions, in order to increase the consume of cars. Conversely, mass transport has not received incentives in such a regular basis; investments in this sector have actually decreased in the last years.

This is very much concerning because the solution for this issue would more likely come from the government rather than the civil society. This is so because unfortunately, people tend to see problems of this nature from an individual perspective only: drivers might complain a lot about the hours lost in the traffic jam, but the majority of them are not willing to leaving their cars behind and getting to work by public transport.

Some argue the government should expand the number of roads infinitely; certainly this way of thinking is buttressed by the many lobbyists from the car industry, who know that more roads, in the end, mean more cars in use. In the long run this would not only prove ineffective against congestion, but also contribute to more air pollution.

The Brazilian society can no longer pretend having nothing to do with the solution of this issue. Neither should it believe that expanding the number of roads would be a good way. It should press the government towards prioritizing investments on public transport. Companies who operate in this field should be strongly stimulated and overseen in order to provide better services. Besides, driving a private car in congested urban centers should be turned into something very expensive, by means of toll collection. This would certainly encourage drivers to leave their cars at home and use public transport.
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Stormy Weather.

[Barnez1]

The number of private cars in use in Brazil has increased significantly in the last few decades. Since the number of streets, avenues and roads have not increased at the same pace, congestion has turned into one of the major problems of large Brazilian cities such as Rio de Janeiro and S�o Paulo.

Despite this, whenever the Brazilian economy faces difficult times, one of the actions usually taken by governmental officials to stimulate the economy is temporarily suspending taxes on automobile acquisitions in order to increase the consumption of cars. Conversely, mass transport has not received incentives on such a regular basis. In fact, investments in this sector have actually decreased in recent years.

This is very concerning because the solution for this issue would more likely come from government rather than civil society. Unfortunately, this is because people tend to see problems of this nature from an individual perspective only: drivers might complain a lot about the hours lost in traffic jams, but the majority of them are not willing to leave their cars behind and get to work by public transport.

Some argue that the government should expand the number of roads infinitely; and certainly this way of thinking is buttressed by the many lobbyists from the car industry, who know that more roads, in the end, mean more cars in use. In the long run this would not only prove ineffective against congestion, but also contribute to more air pollution.

Brazilian society can no longer pretend to have nothing to do with the solution to this issue. Neither should it believe that expanding the number of roads would be a good way forward. It should press the government towards prioritizing investments in public transport. Companies who operate in this field should be strongly stimulated. and overseen in order to provide better services. Besides, driving a private car in congested urban centers should be turned into something very expensive, by means of toll collections. This would certainly encourage drivers to leave their cars at home and use public transport.

Barnez1
English Language Centre
http://www.englishlc.com/
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Every person, every object is full of desire. Be a connoisseur!

[ClarissaMach]

Thanks a lot!

I have just one question: in the sentence "Since the number of streets, avenues and roads have not increased at the same pace", the verb "to have" has to agree with "streets, avenues and roads" rather than with "number"?
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Stormy Weather.

[Barnez1]

Hi.

Regarding the sentence: 'The number of streets, avenues and roads have not increased at the same pace' being 3rd person singular or plural, this is a interesting point to raise.

In my opinion, there is a choice of using has or have depending on whether we think of the number of streets, avenues and roads as one collective number (e.g. 3,000, comprising of 1,000 streets, 1,000 avenues & 1,000 roads), or as three collective numbers (e.g. 1,000 streets, 1,000 avenues & 1,000 roads)


Therefore, I believe that both of the following are correct:

1. Since the number of streets, avenues and roads have not increased at the same pace.

&

2. Since the number of streets, avenues and roads has not increased at the same pace.


Strictly speaking, you could also argue that number in version 1 could be plural, to reflect the three totals being discussed. However, again I don't believe this is essential.

I'd welcome any other opinions on these points .......


Barnez1
English Language Centre
http://www.englishlc.com/
_________________
Every person, every object is full of desire. Be a connoisseur!