Adam watches silently as a large flock of birds fly over the yard.
2007-01-15 09:50:02 · 6 answers · asked by Jacobi S 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Fly should be "flies." The verb has to agree with the subject "a flock," which is singular.
2007-01-15 09:55:14 · answer #1 · answered by espresso! 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The correct word should be 'flies' and not 'fly', since what is referred to is a flock (singular) and not 'birds' (plural).
Sometimes, we get a doubt whether we mean the singular or the plural, as in the following sentence:
'One or more chairs needs to be replaced.'
Here, the word 'or' applies to both 'one' and 'more'. While 'more chairs' would be correct, 'one chairs' cannot be correct. What is the alternative? Should it be 'At least one chair needs to be replaced', or 'One chair or more than one needs to be replaced'? If it is the latter, then wont 'more than one' imply a plural and so 'needs' wouldnt be the correct word?
Maybe somone could enlighten me on this!
2007-01-16 10:30:00 · answer #2 · answered by greenhorn 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a flock flies.... I agree with the others. We need to avoid making verbs agree with the object of a preposition.
2007-01-15 20:37:38 · answer #3 · answered by Bob T 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
fly
2007-01-15 17:55:27 · answer #4 · answered by beez 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
flies not fly
2007-01-15 20:15:23 · answer #5 · answered by Next evolutionary step... 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
no espresso is right. It should be 'flies.'
2007-01-15 18:21:16 · answer #6 · answered by yuna 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋