Is or Are... Subject-Verb Agreement 3

[Thadeus]

In a scenario where there more than one Building at a Location, that Location should still only be counted once.

Please, fill in the blank and explain your choice.

~Thadeus

PS: I know which to choose, but cannot argue my case. I haven't diagrammed a sentence in roughly 30 years.

PPS: I realize that this can be reworded 500 different ways... I'm not really looking to reword, just understand.

 

[randy700]

IS -- because the subject (Location) is singular.

Randy

 

[CajunCenturion]

Yes, 'location' is the subject of the sentence, but that is not what determines whether the verb in the introductory phrase is singular or plural.

In this case, we have an introductory phrase with an 'existential there' working as the subject of the phrase. An existential there can be either singular or plural, depending on the number of its associated complement. In the original example, the associated complement is 'building'; therefore, the 'existential there' is singular and calls for a singular verb.
In a scenario where there is more than one building at a location, that location should still only be counted once.

The above sentence could just as easily read "In a scenario where there are more than two buildings at a location, that location should still only be counted once." In this case, we still have the same singular subject 'location', but in the introductory phrase, the existential there is plural because it's complement 'buildings' is plural.

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[tcsbiz]

I would write is something like:

"Count a location once when there is more than one building."

That may be a bit clearer.

But, I would use the singular form for the reason randy700 wrote, and, it sounds better to me.

 

[Thadeus]

In a scenario where there are more than five children at a Location, that Location should still only be counted once.

Randy, apply the same logic to the sentence above?

Still trying to understand... your response, while clear, doesn't make me understand any better since the singular Location hasn't changed in the new sentence I provided above, but ARE is definitely the right Verb in this new sentence.

Thanks for the quick response though.

~thadeus

 

[Thadeus]

Thanks CC - I knew I could count on you!

 

[CajunCenturion]

I try, when Dave's not around - speaking of which ...


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[randy700]

I shall return to silent lurking.
Tried to provide an answer that made sense to me, did not expect to be slammed.
Sorry for the trouble.


Randy

 

[Annihilannic]

That was hardly a slamming, 'twas but a mere correction.

I post mostly answers in these forums... but it's the corrections that I learn most from!

Annihilannic.

 

[Turkbear]

Hi,
To see what explaining an 'existential there' can involve:

http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/8763-existential-there.html

and apparently it has a companion type in the 'Dummy It':

http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/60131.aspx

No wonder folks have trouble learning english as a second language !



To Paraphrase:"The Help you get is proportional to the Help you give.."

 

[jebenson]

Ok, let's break this down.

Taking away "extra" parts of the sentence that don't affect the verb tense:

...there is more than one Building....

Building is what is used to determine the verb tense. Since building is singular, use 'is'.


For the second example:

In a scenario where there are more than five children at a Location, that Location should still only be counted once.

Taking away...

...there are more than five children....

Here the word children determines the verb tense. The word children is plural, so 'are' is used.


Rewording the sentences can make it a bit clearer, for purposes of this discussion:

There is one building at a location.
There are five children at a location.



I used to rock and roll every night and party every day. Then it was every other day. Now I'm lucky if I can find 30 minutes a week in which to get funky. - Homer Simpson

Arrrr, mateys! Ye needs ta be preparin' yerselves fer Talk Like a Pirate Day!

 

[SkipVought]

Where there are more buildings than one, at this location...

Where there is more than one building at this location...

Skip,

_{Just traded in my old subtlety...
for a NUANCE!}

 

[SQLSister]

How can you have more than one building at a location? Are they stacked on top of each other?

"NOTHING is more important in a database than integrity." ESquared

 

[Andrzejek]

Location can be a city block, a town, a village, a city, a campus, a factory, school grounds, ...

Have fun.

---- Andy

 

[Welshbird]

I'd say that should be an 'are' too.

Fee

"The cure for anything is salt water – sweat, tears, or the sea." Isak Dinesen

 

[stackdump]

Does this work for has and have too?

Let me give an example, which of these is correct and why...

"The painting of the red panel and the blue panel is complete"
"The painting of the red panel and the blue panel are complete"

...and then with has/have...

"The painting of the red panel and the blue panel has been completed"
"The painting of the red panel and the blue panel have been completed

 

[Annihilannic]

The sentence should make equal sense when you omit the optional "of the red panel and the blue panel" which exists to describe the nature of "the painting"; if you do that the answer becomes obvious.

The painting is complete.
The painting has been completed.

Annihilannic.

 

[2ffat]

Alternately, "The red and blue panels have been completed."

IMHO, less wordy, gets the point across, and sounds better.


James P. Cottingham
^{I'm number 1,229!
I'm number 1,229!}

 

[CajunCenturion]

==> Alternately, "The red and blue panels have been completed."
It's also passive voice, but that's another topic.



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[Thadeus]

Honey! The painting's done!"

As heard at my house....

~Thadeus