Could you help me with my grammar on this sentence?

Question

Scholars are unsure of the origins of the synagogue, but they know that they were an established institution by the time of Jesus.

Is that right? Or should it be "...but they know that IT WAS an established...."?

I'm trying to convey that synagogues were well-established in Jesus' time, not just one synagogue. But when you call it "an institution" then it is singular, so that's what's confusing me about this!

Thanks.

Answer 1

No, leave it the way you had it, the way in the top paragraph

Answer 2

i think you should say:

-Scholars are unsure about the origins of the synagogue. However, they know that the synagogues were an established institution by the time of Jesus.
- Although scholars are unsure about the origins of the synagogue, they know the synagogues were an established institution by the time of Jesus.

Answer 3

It is not your grammar that is wrong it's the context. Synagogues are not institutions. They are buildings built for the purpose of worshipping God. Your sentence should read:-

Scholars are unsure of the origins of synagogues but they know that their use was well established by Jesus' time.

Answer 4

Scholars are unsure of the syangogues' origins, but they know that they were established institutions by the time of Jesus

Answer 5

oh, i see. it would have to be "it was" because you're nevertheless talking about "the synagogue"

and anyways, it's pretty clear (at least to me) that there were more than one synagogue in Jesus' time.

hope it helps <33

Answer 6

Maybe you should say "they were established institutions"

Answer 7

it was in my opinion

Answer 8

it was, definitely.