Why do we say "more than one person IS dead" instead of "more than one person ARE dead"?

1 ⤊

Why do we say "more than one person IS dead" instead of "more than one person ARE dead"?

Isn't "more than one person" plural? Why do we use the singular verb?

2006-09-24 10:37:25 · 4 answers · asked by Confused 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help

4 answers

No, "person" is singular--and since it is the subject, not "more than one," you use "is." "More than one" describes "person," so it's kind of an adjective phrase.

2006-09-24 10:41:34 · answer #1 · answered by killingwish 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋

No, "one person" is singular.

2006-09-24 17:40:20 · answer #2 · answered by luv2fish 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋

because "one person" is singular, and "more than" is just a modifier.

2006-09-24 17:40:55 · answer #3 · answered by Jjq 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋

Each person is individually dead, they may have died in the same incident but each individual is dead, not the group.

2006-09-24 17:43:34 · answer #4 · answered by Paul D 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋