This is a grammar question.
Fill the blank
Hammering nails ______ the proper tools ( Require or Requires) The subtleness is pretty confusing.
Thanks!!
2007-04-27 16:41:58 · 18 answers · asked by Lin X 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
It is requires, because the action of Hammering,( in this case used as the subject), is a singular third person noun.
1st person- I require
2nd person singular- you require
3rd person singular- he/she/it requires
1st person plural- we require
2nd person plural- you require
third person plural- they require
2007-04-27 16:59:45 · answer #1 · answered by La Rousse 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Requires
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2007-04-27 16:45:36 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nails don't requre tools, hammering does. Therefore,
Hammering nails requires the proper tools.
2007-04-27 16:47:06 · answer #3 · answered by tkquestion 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
requires
this is single action of hammering which requires the proper tools
2007-04-27 18:32:03 · answer #4 · answered by Manz 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hammering nails requires the proper tools.
you have double plurals, nails and tools
2007-04-27 16:51:27 · answer #5 · answered by Life Dynamics 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The gerund 'hammering' is the subject of the verb here, and so the verb must be REQUIRES. It doesn't matter what you are actually hammering---------you could say, hammering wood or hammering metal or hammering tacks or hammering nails...............the verb still must be requireS, with the 's'.
Yes, it is confusing, but I assure you that this is correct!
2007-04-27 16:47:35 · answer #6 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
(the act of) Hammering nails __requires___ the proper tools.
The nails aren't hammering, they are being hammered.
2007-04-27 17:15:32 · answer #7 · answered by E Yow 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Requires. I find that tricky grammar questions make more sense if you think about how you would say it. We often have better grammar when we speak than when we write.
2007-04-27 16:46:15 · answer #8 · answered by kiera70 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's "require." If "nails" was singular, it would be "requires" instead. Hammering nails require the proper tools. That sounds a lot better than: Hammering nails requires the proper tools.
2007-04-27 16:48:41 · answer #9 · answered by ? 1 · 0⤊ 6⤋
Singular subject - use requires
Plural subject - use require
A dog requires a leash.
Dogs require a leash.
Hammering is a singular act.
2007-04-27 17:45:50 · answer #10 · answered by vinny_the_hack 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋