I Hate Grammar! Help!

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 2/21/06 at 1:00am

I have a few grammar questions:

- He is one of those people who [is, are] never ready on time.

I thought it was "is," but I found out it isn't, and I just can't see why. Also:

- He was one of the accountants who were cooking the books.

How is that correct??

- Nobody in a position of authority had given their approval.

I cannot tell if had/has is singular or plural in this case!!! I read that had is plural, and "Nobody" would be considered singular...unless my grammar book is messed up.

And also, if you have a neither...nor sentence, if the noun that comes after "nor" is plural, you would use "were" instead of "was"? I am so confused right now! I hate grammar!

Updated On: 2/21/06 at 01:00 AM

[Kringas]

Posted: 2/21/06 at 1:05am

Whoops

Updated On: 2/21/06 at 01:05 AM

[Kringas]

Posted: 2/21/06 at 1:09am

"had/has" is past tense/present tense. I'm not sure what you're asking about singular and plural. Nobody had or nobody has works, depending on the tense you're looking for.

[Dre2387]

Posted: 2/21/06 at 1:10am

maybe if: 'Nobody who is in a position of authority has given their approval.'

but the other one does sound past tense.

with the others, no idea.

[Kringas]

Posted: 2/21/06 at 1:12am

As for the neither/nor, it would be plural.

[kelzama]

Posted: 2/21/06 at 9:38am

"He is one of those people who [is, are] never ready on time."

I don't think given your sentence structure that there's an absolute answer:

Eliminate the prepositional phrase "of those people" and you get "he is one who is never on time". Not "one who are". "who is" modifies "one" not "of those people."

Best option: write a clearer sentence. He is the type of person who is never on time.

Nobody in a position of authority had given their approval.
Again, for clarity's sake:
Nobody in a position of authority had given approval.
"Nobody" is singular. "Their" is plural. Purists might suggest his/her, or simply his, but your best option is to eliminate the confusion by writing a clearer sentence.

Neither this nor that depends on what's closest to the verb.
Neither the apple nor the oranges have spots. Neither she nor I care for spotty fruit.

For future grammar questions, you might want to check out www.grammarbook.com.
Updated On: 2/21/06 at 09:38 AM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/21/06 at 9:47am

DEAR GOD. THIS is why there is a students board.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 2/21/06 at 9:51am

oh, i don't know, namo. that was my initial reaction as well, but certainly there are plenty of folks who are out of school around here who can benefit from some grammar lessons.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 2/21/06 at 9:54am

exactly...and kelz, you're wrong......change the sentence and the question isn't even asked....SUBJECT-VERB agreement people, This is NOT rocket science. A singular subject, must have a singular verb....a plural subject must have a plural verb.



He is one who is never on time. (he, and is)
He is one of those people who are never on time. (people and are)

Subject-verb agreement is always absolute.

If you change the sentence as

[kelzama]

Posted: 2/21/06 at 10:00am

Elph:
From a grammar site:
The pronouns each, everyone, every one, everybody, anyone, anybody, someone, and somebody are singular and require singular verbs. Do not be misled by what follows of.
Examples Each of the girls sings well.
Every one of the cakes is gone.
NOTE: Everyone is one word when it means everybody. Every one is two words when the meaning is each one.

My original comment is correct. Rewrite for clarity.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 2/21/06 at 10:08am

please supply the URL of the grammar site.

Actually you don't need to. I was using people, rather then He. You are correct.

Updated On: 2/21/06 at 10:08 AM

[kelzama]

Posted: 2/21/06 at 10:15am

Funny, I was just thawing my brain in the shower thinking, well, actually, it could be "one of those people who are." Muddled modifiers, dangling participles. Just bad sentence structure altogether.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 2/21/06 at 10:57am

It's definitely an unlcear sentence, but it IS singular. The words in the prepositional phrase (such as "people") canNOT be used as the subject. The subject of the sentence is "He".

[Elphaba]

Posted: 2/21/06 at 11:46am

yup......

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 2/21/06 at 12:16pm

Ah, just checking for own mental sanity. I was confused by what you all had said.