Neither of the rugs (lie, lies) on the mat.
I think the verb should be lie, but my teacher keeps telling me it is lies. Please help!
This one too:
Every one of these planes (carry, carries) 50 passengers.
2007-03-21 09:31:26 · 8 answers · asked by William J 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Take out the prepositional phrase.
The subject of a preposition can NOT be the subject of a sentence. So if when you are analyzing the sentence, you
take out the prepositional phrase, it will help you see why
your teacher is correct.
Neither lies on the mat. (If it is difficult to see NEITHER is singular, then mentally add the word ONE)
Neither (one) lies on the mat.
Every(one) carries 50.
Every is singular.
All is plural however, so this would also be true.
All carry 50.
2007-03-25 06:20:17 · answer #1 · answered by maî 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your teacher is not nuts the verb is lies because of the rugs is a prep. phrases make neither the subject and neither is talking about two so the verb must be plural making it lies. The second one of these planes is a prep. phrases making everyone the subject, everyone is plural so the verb must be plural making the answer carries. Besides Everyone carry 50 passengers makes sense but it makes the sentence imperative not just declarative. And Neither lie makes no sense. All I did to figure those out was eliminate the prepositional phrases. Hope this helps!
2007-03-21 10:04:57 · answer #2 · answered by Katie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The subject of the sentence is "Neither," so the verb is lies. Same thing with the other sentence. "Every one" is the verb, so carries is the correct verb.
I agree it sounds weird.
Maybe you could say "Neither rug lies on the mat." Or "Each plane carries 50 passengers."
Good luck!
2007-03-21 09:36:30 · answer #3 · answered by Suzanne 4 · 6⤊ 0⤋
the subject of the sentence is *neither*, so *lies* is correct.
it would be the same if you said *neither rug lies on the mat*. whether you use plural or singular rug/s doesn't affect it.
*of the rugs* is just giving more information about what *neither* is about.
the same with the planes.
*every one* is the subject - one is singular. so *carries* is correct. *every one carries*...
2007-03-21 09:59:56 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the second is carries but i agree with you it sounds better when you say it with lie but i think the proper answer sadlyu is lies
2007-03-21 09:55:07 · answer #5 · answered by ~*These Blue Eyes Tell No Lies*~ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yeah your right, for #1 the verb is "lie".
For number 2, it's "carry"
2007-03-21 09:50:02 · answer #6 · answered by Right here Right now 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Both sound weird. but i think you're right about the first one you cant hav 2 plurals after each other i.e.: My cat keeps on playing. but plural it would be: My cats keep on playing. it changes if the noun is plural.
the second question is probably "carry" im not an expert just tryin 2 use common sense. hope i was able to help!
2007-03-21 09:40:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
i know.. it does sound very funny that way.. but your teacher is correct.
2007-03-21 10:49:41 · answer #8 · answered by J Leigh ♥ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋