Mixed singular/plural — which verb to use?
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Sometimes I find myself saying something like this: “The unifying factor in all my favorite songs is unusual time signatures.”
“Unifying factor” is singular but “time signatures” is plural. Which one should the verb align with? I assume it should be singular, because the subject is singular, but it feels awkward either way. Is the sentence even grammatically correct or does it need to be restructured?
grammatical-number
asked Apr 26 at 12:42
keithjgrantkeithjgrant
1,81231523
add a comment |
Sometimes I find myself saying something like this: “The unifying factor in all my favorite songs is unusual time signatures.”
“Unifying factor” is singular but “time signatures” is plural. Which one should the verb align with? I assume it should be singular, because the subject is singular, but it feels awkward either way. Is the sentence even grammatically correct or does it need to be restructured?
grammatical-number
asked Apr 26 at 12:42
keithjgrantkeithjgrant
1,81231523
1
It is correct. But you could change it to "... is the use of unusual time signatures" to remove the apparent disagreement.
– user323578
Apr 26 at 12:49
1
The king of the Romans is going to want to have a word with you.
– tchrist♦
Apr 26 at 13:58
add a comment |
Sometimes I find myself saying something like this: “The unifying factor in all my favorite songs is unusual time signatures.”
“Unifying factor” is singular but “time signatures” is plural. Which one should the verb align with? I assume it should be singular, because the subject is singular, but it feels awkward either way. Is the sentence even grammatically correct or does it need to be restructured?
grammatical-number
asked Apr 26 at 12:42
keithjgrantkeithjgrant
1,81231523
Sometimes I find myself saying something like this: “The unifying factor in all my favorite songs is unusual time signatures.”
“Unifying factor” is singular but “time signatures” is plural. Which one should the verb align with? I assume it should be singular, because the subject is singular, but it feels awkward either way. Is the sentence even grammatically correct or does it need to be restructured?
grammatical-number
grammatical-number
asked Apr 26 at 12:42
keithjgrantkeithjgrant
1,81231523
asked Apr 26 at 12:42
keithjgrantkeithjgrant
1,81231523
asked Apr 26 at 12:42
keithjgrantkeithjgrant
1,81231523
asked Apr 26 at 12:42
keithjgrantkeithjgrant
1,81231523
asked Apr 26 at 12:42
keithjgrantkeithjgrant
1,81231523
1,81231523
1
It is correct. But you could change it to "... is the use of unusual time signatures" to remove the apparent disagreement.
– user323578
Apr 26 at 12:49
1
The king of the Romans is going to want to have a word with you.
– tchrist♦
Apr 26 at 13:58
add a comment |
1
It is correct. But you could change it to "... is the use of unusual time signatures" to remove the apparent disagreement.
– user323578
Apr 26 at 12:49
1
The king of the Romans is going to want to have a word with you.
– tchrist♦
Apr 26 at 13:58
1
1
It is correct. But you could change it to "... is the use of unusual time signatures" to remove the apparent disagreement.
– user323578
Apr 26 at 12:49
It is correct. But you could change it to "... is the use of unusual time signatures" to remove the apparent disagreement.
– user323578
Apr 26 at 12:49
1
1
The king of the Romans is going to want to have a word with you.
– tchrist♦
Apr 26 at 13:58
The king of the Romans is going to want to have a word with you.
– tchrist♦
Apr 26 at 13:58
add a comment |
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1
It is correct. But you could change it to "... is the use of unusual time signatures" to remove the apparent disagreement.
– user323578
Apr 26 at 12:49
1
The king of the Romans is going to want to have a word with you.
– tchrist♦
Apr 26 at 13:58