Can you tell me whether i have to use "shows" or "show" in these sentences below and why.
the national museum is now displaying a collection of ancient bones that < > the link between man and animals.
what should i use singular form or plural form if i use " a variety of"
I'm wondering because i was taught to use plural form in the case of using "a number of something" but to use singular form in the case of the number of something
ex : a number of students driving are increasing
the number of students driving is less than before..
2007-09-25 09:04:51 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
I'm sorry but I disagree with the above answers (Becky and Capt Bullshot). I see it as :
'a collection' which is singular. The (of bones) just describes the collection. The collection is therefore the object and the noun for which you need to have a singular verb.
Therefore it should read:
'The National Museum is now displaying a collection of ancient bones that shows the link between man and animals.'
And the guy above saying the clue is in 'link' because it is plural? The link in this context is a noun therefore if it is 'links' then it will be plural.
2007-09-25 09:16:42 · answer #1 · answered by porkchop 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hmmm, a tricky one. I was definite about it to start with but the more I think about it, the trickier it's getting.
My first instinct was "... bones that shows the link..." because the bones (plural) are a part of a collection (single) but I can see your point.
As for the students, I think that it should be "is" in both cases as it it the number (single) that is increasing not the students (plural).
The trouble with/beauty of the English language is that there are all these rules, but in certain situations you ignore them and do something else.
Edit: Right I've thought about this some more. It is the collection of bones which is showing the link, not the bones themselves, i.e. each of the bones does not show the link, it is the collection of them which does.
So I reckon, definitely, "show" for the singular collection.
2007-09-25 16:16:10 · answer #2 · answered by Fifi L'amour 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
First cross out all prepositional phrases. "Of ancient bones" gets crossed out. Now the museum is displaying a collection that displays the link. . .
The collection is treated as a single unit.
Sometimes collective nouns can be either singular or plural, like you said. I'm a little fuzzy there.
Added: Unless "that show(s) the link. . ." modifies bones rather than collection. In that case, it tells you which bones the museum is displaying.
Otherwise, it tells you which collection the museum is displaying.
Clear as mud?
2007-09-25 17:01:29 · answer #3 · answered by Maryfrances 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is the thing doing the showing that determines whether it is 'show' or 'shows'. If the thing is singular, it is SHOWS. Plural things SHOW. ( As a rule of thumb, one 's' in a sentence is correct). So... A collection is singular. It is 'a' collection. A collection of ... SHOWS ....
On to the next example. This is trickier a number of students may be a single phrase or a physical plural number of students. It depends on context. So, 'The number of students at the party SHOWS how popular the host is'. The 'number of students' is a single thing. But... ' a number of students SHOW signs of a hangover after the party'. 'A number of students' here is an unspecified plural number.
I'm a native speaker so I hope that helps
2007-09-25 16:16:42 · answer #4 · answered by miniegg 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The national museum is now displaying a collection of bones that
2007-09-25 16:16:50 · answer #5 · answered by Scarlett 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the national museum is now displaying a collection of ancient bones that
2007-09-25 16:07:47 · answer #6 · answered by Yorkshire Gurlie ♥ 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The key word is collection so it should be shows.
The number of students driving is .... That is correct. Again, the verb refers to 'the number'.
The other one doesn;t make sense, should be 'the number of students driving is increasing.
2007-09-25 19:43:14 · answer #7 · answered by Beau Brummell 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Show.
Reason being: the first clause already has a subject (museum) and verb (is displaying).
The next clause has a subject (bones) and now needs a verb. Bones cannot "shows". Bones must "show".
Ta-da. Problem solved. :-)
2007-09-25 16:28:06 · answer #8 · answered by YSIC 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The correct answer is that you can use either.
The more you read that sentence, the more you can see that the verb could agree with 'collection' or 'bones'. So, either 'show' or 'shows' would be correct.
.
2007-09-26 05:34:56 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Correct would be 'show' for 'a collection' - although in common speech, you will find both are used.
2007-09-25 16:18:59 · answer #10 · answered by AUNTY EM 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋