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Original poster

is/are help please

26 replies

dennymosh · 09/01/2011 23:28

Which one is correct in the following sentences?

Each of the apples (is/are) bad.

Fish and chips (is/are) a popular meal.

The number of cars (is/are) increasing.

Would it also be possible to explain why as I am getting really confused.

Thanks

OP posts:
Clunge · 09/01/2011 23:31

Each of the apples ARE bad. Apples is plural ergo it's are. If you said each one of the apples... it would be is because one is singular.

Fish and chips IS a popular meal. Meal is singular ergo it's is.

The number of cars IS increasing. You're talking about the number of cars (singular) and not about the cars (plural) themselves.

Clunge · 09/01/2011 23:32

I think anyway. Haha! I'm second guessing myself now over the apples one. Hmmm.

gibbberish · 09/01/2011 23:33

As clunge said and beautifully explained.

gibbberish · 09/01/2011 23:33

As clunge said and beautifully explained.

ShowOfHands · 09/01/2011 23:33

No I agree.

Apples is plural, fish and chips is singular (or meal is really), number is singular.

gibbberish · 09/01/2011 23:34

Oops!

FamilyShmamily · 09/01/2011 23:34

each of the apples is bad

Each is singular, the subject is 'each', not 'apples'

FamilyShmamily · 09/01/2011 23:36

I have confused myself now!

ShowOfHands · 09/01/2011 23:38

No, actually I've changed my mind. Each is singular isn't it. I saw apples and my brain leapt in before considering the each.

Oh it's half eleven fgs.

ILoveItWhenYouCallMeBoo · 09/01/2011 23:38

yep clunge is right.

Clunge · 09/01/2011 23:39

Me too, FamilyShmamily.

gibbberish · 09/01/2011 23:39

Shammy I think you are right. Should be is. My head hurts.

Original poster
dennymosh · 09/01/2011 23:39

Thank you all.

OP posts:
ShowOfHands · 09/01/2011 23:40

X posts with Family! I really am half asleep.

I think they're all singular.

Clunge · 09/01/2011 23:41

I think Family is right. It's "Each of the apples is bad" I'd much rather have a one in there though. "Each one of the apples is bad" It rolls better off the tongue.

FamilyShmamily · 09/01/2011 23:41

I am second guessing myself! Grin

Each of them has a new toy. Each of the cars is blue.

gibbberish · 09/01/2011 23:41

Yep have decided it should be is, is, is.

Until I change my mind again.

FamilyShmamily · 09/01/2011 23:41

yes clunge it sounds better with a one

Clunge · 09/01/2011 23:42

Oh jeez, now the word 'each' looks odd. Bedtime I think!

Clary · 09/01/2011 23:45

Each apple is bad

Fish and chips is a meal

The number is increasing

The key thing is the thing you are talking about. A number, a meal, each apple.

Clunge · 09/01/2011 23:48

It's each of the apples (plural) not each apple. I think that's why it threw me slightly.

I've just passed an adult literacy course too. I definitely fluked it!

WilheminaAteHer · 09/01/2011 23:54

They are all "is".

"Each (one) of the apples is bad." - here the verb is referring to 'each' individual apple, not the apples as a group. So "is" is correct, though in colloquial use people sometimes say "are".

"fish & chips is a popular meal" - if you replace "fish & chips" with "lasagne", which verb form would you choose? The verb doesn't change just because "chips" is plural, nor because there are two foods in the name.

"the number of cars is increasing." - the verb is referring to "number", not cars. Number is singular, hence "is".

I assure you, this is the definitive answer! Grin (ex-English teacher)

Clunge · 09/01/2011 23:55

Two out of three aint bad! Blush

WilheminaAteHer · 10/01/2011 00:05

Ahh, don't sweat it. Asking is better than pretending you know, so yer alreet with me, chicken. Grin

prism · 10/01/2011 09:24

... and the reason you're getting confused is that in each of the examples you're still considering more than one thing. You're not saying

this apple is bad
fish is part of fish and chips
this is an extra car

It's just that the thing you're identifying (the subject of the sentence) is in fact singular:

each apple
fish and chips (together as one meal)
the number of cars

so it's "is". But it is indeed confusing.

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