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GKAbyss

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Re: Is vs Are discussion[stemmed from left/right hand topic]

I asked my teacher again, and it's "One in ten people is left handed."
It's because "in ten people" is a prepostional phrase, and is modifying the subject "one."
So you ignore the "in then people," and it ends up as "One is left handed."

Last edited by GKAbyss (Apr 17 2012 12:56:15 pm)

Nailauri

Guest

Re: Is vs Are discussion[stemmed from left/right hand topic]

If we look at it that way it is correct. But it is not necessary to ignore "in ten people" Even though it is a prepostional phrase. A phrase like that works as either an adjective or and adverb, and never contains the subject of a sentence.

But in this sentence "One in ten people are/is lefthanded" the prepostional phrase "in ten people" works as more than just such a phrase, since it not only describes something in the sentence but also contains part of the subject.

If we look at it my way, it should be are. If we look at it from your teachers way it should be is. Depending on how you interpret it, it isn't always necessary to ignore the prepostional phrase. But it can be done in certain sentences.

I could keep going and arguing for my cause a much longer time, with many evidents to prove it.
But I think we should let this go and stop at saying they both work.

'Edit If the sentence was phrased like this "One, in ten people are/is lefthanded"

Then then subject would be clearly marked out as "One" Due to the comma, which means you need to ignore the prepostional phrase. But if not, it is not necessary.

Last edited by Nailauri (Apr 17 2012 2:17:28 pm)

Master1

Member

From: Crait

Joined: 2015-02-15

Posts: 4,452

Re: Is vs Are discussion[stemmed from left/right hand topic]

Answers:

Is
Is
Is
Is
Is

Yes, you do have the 1st one wrong.

Argue with me and die.

Last edited by Master1 (Apr 17 2012 2:22:37 pm)

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xputnameherex

Guest

Re: Is vs Are discussion[stemmed from left/right hand topic]

I asked my teacher again, and it's "One in ten people is left handed."
It's because "in ten people" is a prepostional phrase, and is modifying the subject "one."
So you ignore the "in then people," and it ends up as "One is left handed."

But if you ignore the "one in ten" you get: People is left-handed.

Your teacher is an idiot.

GKAbyss

Guest

Re: Is vs Are discussion[stemmed from left/right hand topic]

I asked my teacher again, and it's "One in ten people is left handed."
It's because "in ten people" is a prepostional phrase, and is modifying the subject "one."
So you ignore the "in then people," and it ends up as "One is left handed."

But if you ignore the "one in ten" you get: People is left-handed.

Your teacher is an idiot.

I'm saying to ignore the prepositional phrase to see the sentence without the modifier.
You can't just remove "one," because it is the subject. If you remove the prepositional phrase modifying the subject, you will see that the verb agrees with the subject "one."

Nailauri

Guest

Re: Is vs Are discussion[stemmed from left/right hand topic]

His teacher is correct; it is possible to do that, but as I said. It's not necessary in this sentence.

Last edited by Nailauri (Apr 17 2012 4:17:07 pm)

Muffin

Guest

Re: Is vs Are discussion[stemmed from left/right hand topic]

Is this your English homework? If not, why do you care? Are you seeking grammar help or something?

Nailauri

Guest

Re: Is vs Are discussion[stemmed from left/right hand topic]

Can't a person simply be curious? It's also something that is a part of the basic human needs. If we start an argument over something, we will always want to know the truth. At least what we think is the truth. It might not be apparent; it might lie in your subconscious, but it is there. The desire to find the answer.

Last edited by Nailauri (Apr 17 2012 4:23:42 pm)

xputnameherex

Guest

Re: Is vs Are discussion[stemmed from left/right hand topic]

I asked my teacher again, and it's "One in ten people is left handed."
It's because "in ten people" is a prepostional phrase, and is modifying the subject "one."
So you ignore the "in then people," and it ends up as "One is left handed."

But if you ignore the "one in ten" you get: People is left-handed.

Your teacher is an idiot.

I'm saying to ignore the prepositional phrase to see the sentence without the modifier.
You can't just remove "one," because it is the subject. If you remove the prepositional phrase modifying the subject, you will see that the verb agrees with the subject "one."

"One in ten" is an adjective, it describes "people."

Nailauri

Guest

Re: Is vs Are discussion[stemmed from left/right hand topic]

"In ten people" is the adverb. It describes the verb.

After some long thinking about this, and with some advice from a good friend. We came upon the conclusion that in this sentence it can be both Is or Are. Since the rules are contradicting themselves.

One in ten people are left handed.
One in ten people is left handed. ¨

They both work.

If it would have been like this.

One, in ten people is left handed. Since we add a comma there, we point out that "One" is the subject. Then you should ignore the prepostional phrase.

But both Is or Are works in this case.

Case closed.

Last edited by Nailauri (Apr 19 2012 11:20:16 am)