[Duo2400] Re: off topic jargon]

[tom bonacci]

You cannot decide here if "is" or "are" is correct until you have agreement
between the subject of the sentence and the predicate nominative. Regardless
of the verb chosen, you should not have a singular subject and a plural
predicate nominative.

correct:  
 "A vital element is the collection of words..."
 "The vital elements are the words..."

-tom
(...who knows he should keep silent but just couldn't 
help himself.)




David Grant wrote:
> 
> >  In a message dated 8/3/03 3:52:26 AM, g_alan_e at yahoo.com writes:
> >
> >  << Another vital element of learning english is the
> >  words (thankfully there aren't a great many) that
> >  are exceptions to the general rules of grammar and
> >  especially pronunciation >>
> >
> >  ...ARE the words...  "Is" is singular.  (hehe)
> 
> I think the original version was correct.
> 
>   'is' refers to the element, not the words
> 
>    element is  ...  words are
> 
> DG
>