Re: IS or ARE

[Chris Morton <salt -dot- morton -at- gmail -dot- com>]

Phil, your answer was 100% correct. I haven't checked my copy of CMoS, but
the *Gregg Reference Manual* should suffice.

> Chris

On Thu, Jul 26, 2012 at 7:42 AM, Phil03 <philstokes03 -at- googlemail -dot- com> wrote:

> Sorry, folks. I can't provide you with any 'authoritative' reference other
> than my own experience.
>
> I'd imagine you might find it in something like Michael Swan's 'Practical
> English Usage' or maybe Hogue's 'Writing Academic English', two common
> source books for people learning English as a Second Language, but I can't
> guarantee it.
>
> I'd say the best judge of whether my opinion is right or wrong is your own
> linguistic instinct. English, after all, is a matter of convention (i.e.,
> common usage) rather than prescribed, 'laid-down-in-stone' rules. The
> language evolves in piecemeal, both through space and time, part of the
> reason why we occasionally (though not as often as some would have you
> believe) are forced to disagree.
>
> Best
>
> Phil
> http://applehelpwriter.com
>
>
> On 26 Jul 2012, at 00:56, Kathleen MacDowell <kathleen -dot- eamd -at- gmail -dot- com>
> wrote:
>
> > Thanks, Phil! I had just started thinking I should look up 'groups' in
> Chicago.
> >
> > Or where did you find your reference?
> >
> > Kathleen
> >
> > On Tue, Jul 24, 2012 at 9:12 PM, Phil03 <philstokes03 -at- googlemail -dot- com>
> wrote:
> >> On 25 Jul 2012, at 05:51, "Peter Neilson" <neilson -at- windstream -dot- net>
> wrote:
> >>
> >>> The words "of free service" is a prepositional phrase modifying the
> subject of the sentence, "months" which is plural.
> >>>
> >>> It is are. Is is wrong.
> >>
> >>
> >> Not so fast there, Peter!
> >>
> >> Some expressions which refer to measurement or to amounts of time and
> money may be either singular or plural. When you want such expressions to
> mean items grouped together to form a single unit, use a singular verb.
> When you want such expressions to mean several separate items, use a plural
> verb. Compare these:
> >>
> >> One thousand dollars is too much to pay for a hair cut. (‘one thousand’
> is a single number)
> >>
> >> Two weeks is a long time in politics.
> >> (the time is meant to be understood as one period)
> >>
> >> Which is correct, 'is' or 'are' depends on whether the free service is
> one period or not. Can the months be separated? (I would think not, in this
> context) as in
> >>
> >> Use 'ARE'  the situation is parallel to A:
> >>
> >> A, 4 hours are plenty for examinations (a 2-hour test at the beginning
> of the course, and a 2-hour test at the end)
> >>
> >> USE 'IS' if the situation is parallel to B:
> >>
> >> B. 4 hours is given to complete the test.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> On 25 Jul 2012, at 05:51, "Peter Neilson" <neilson -at- windstream -dot- net>
> wrote:
> >>
> >>> The words "of free service" is a prepositional phrase modifying the
> subject of the sentence, "months" which is plural.
> >>>
> >>> It is are. Is is wrong.
> >>>
> >>> I'll refrain from eliminating the passive voice.
> >>>
> >>> On Tue, 24 Jul 2012 18:40:40 -0400, Keith Mahoney <
> kamahoney1965 -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> My choice, M8.....go with "is"
> >>>>
> >>>> ~Mahoney
> >>>>
> >>>> On Tue, Jul 24, 2012 at 3:38 PM, John Posada <jposada99 -at- gmail -dot- com>
> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>> Hi, guys...quick question...
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Two months of free service is given to a current customer
> >>>>>
> >>>>> or
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Two months of free service are given to a current customer
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> My thought is that "is" should be used as free service is given.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Please no suggestions to rewriting or context, or needing more
> >>>>> information...I have no choice than to use one of them the way it is
> and it
> >>>>> goes out tomorrow, so I have a limited option for battles.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> --
> >>>>> John Posada
> >>>>> Rock portfolio: http://jposada.zenfolio.com/musicportfolio
> >>>>> Twitter: @rockbandphotos
> >>>>> Blog: http://jposada.zenfolio.com/blog
> >>>>>
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> > --
> > Kathleen MacDowell
> > kathleen -dot- eamd -at- gmail -dot- com
>
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