1.I was always one of the slower, if not the slowest, runner to finish the daily running routine.
2.I was always one of the slower, if not the slowest, runners to finish the daily running routine.
2007-02-24 14:08:48 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Sentence 2 (plural - runners), because you used 'one of'. (You don't say, 'one of the slower runner'.)
It would be singular (runner) if the line was, 'I was always the slower, if not the slowest, runner to finish the daily running routine.'
2007-02-24 14:12:00 · answer #1 · answered by Norak D 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
#2 is correct. The anticedent splits up "slower runners" and doesn't allow you to hear how the two words sound together. If "if not the slowest" wasn't part of the sentence, number 1 would sound like this:
I was always one of the slower runner to finish the daily running routine.
That's not correct. When you say "one of" you are insinuating more than one. "Runner" is singular. "Runners" (with an S) is needed to make this sentence correct.
Next time you have this problem, try taking out the anticedent and reading it.
2007-02-24 14:16:05 · answer #2 · answered by Squeegee Beckingheim :-) 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Neither. You use the phrase "one of the" in reference to more than two people. You cannot be one of the slower, because slower means there are only two comparisons. Slowest means there are more than two. You can say "I was always one of the slowest runners" but you cannot say "I was always one of the slower runners" because you cannot be "one of" two people in a comparison. I know that it flows and sounds great, but it's incorrect.
Your sentence should read, "I was always one of the slowest runners to finish the daily running routine."
I think that fixing this problem not only answers your question, but helps you realize an important mistake you were making that overrules your question. Good luck!
2007-02-24 14:15:27 · answer #3 · answered by Lauren 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
with the s. you are referring to one person out of a whole (runners). you cant say "one of the slower/slowest runner."
2007-02-24 14:14:57 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
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2014-07-21 20:55:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you do add the 's' because 'if not the slowest' is a prepositional phrase and you ignore it when you read the sentence.
2007-02-24 14:25:13 · answer #6 · answered by browneyedblondie5819 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You add the S because you are speaking of a group.
2007-02-24 15:12:18 · answer #7 · answered by Nancy 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋