How do I write this sentence? Half of the children go.... and the other half "stay" or "stays"
2007-07-28 20:27:08 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Go and Stay
Goes and Stays
2007-08-02 06:04:11 · answer #1 · answered by Jess 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Verrry tricky. First off, half is the subject. Half of the children must mean a number of children between 1 and infinity, since cutting children in half is frowned upon. Anyway, "of the children" is just in there to confuse you. Children is plural, so you might think you need the plural verb. Just remember, anthing or anyone contained in a prepositional phrase can't be the subject. So, your real sentence is "Half go and half stay". When you add the explanatory words and phrases, you end up with "Half of the children go and the other half stay." Trust me.
2007-08-05 16:18:27 · answer #2 · answered by teacher93514 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Half of the children go, and the other half stay=)
2007-08-06 02:12:38 · answer #3 · answered by James 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Half of the children may go and the other half should stay.
2007-07-29 09:35:05 · answer #4 · answered by Manz 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Half the children and the other half stay
2007-08-05 15:06:44 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Half the children will go or stay.
Half the children will go and half will stay.
2007-08-04 14:33:06 · answer #6 · answered by Jackofalltrades216 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The subject for the second phrase in the sentence is "half", so the appropriate verb is "stays," the singular form:
"Half of the children go; the other half stays." "Go," the plural form, is used because in the first part of your sentence, "half" is a collective noun - confusing, no? :-)
2007-07-29 04:32:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As the sentence is expressing an instruction.... Half of the children go and the other half stays..........I believe is appropriate
2007-08-05 13:38:55 · answer #8 · answered by shokes 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, both the answers above are incorrect (sorry).
Because "half" is singular, as in "the other half" NOT "the other halves", you would use the singular form of the verb "to stay", which is "stays". This is because despite the fact that you are referring to a group of people, the group itself is only one group; and thus it is treated as a singular entity.
If you have any other grammar questions, here's a site I recommend below.
2007-07-29 03:39:51 · answer #9 · answered by claudiasuperspy 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
hey the correct way to say that is "half of the children go and the other half stay" because if you have a singular noun you use a plural verb but in this case you have a plural noun so you use a singular verb. i know it doesn't sound right but it is,
2007-08-05 16:27:38 · answer #10 · answered by britteleven 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋