by Phil Williams | Jun 14, 2018 | Definitions, Grammar
Do we say “There is a lot…” or “There are a lot of…”? This question was put to me recently by a student who noted that “lot” is the first noun after a verb. In theory, the verb should be singular with “a lot of”, because it is a singular “lot”. Comparing “There are a...
by Phil Williams | Dec 23, 2013 | Grammar
In more complicated sentences, such as those including lists, plural nouns that are grouped together or plural subjects that are followed by a singular noun, you should be especially careful that the noun agrees with the subject, and not just the nearest noun. For...
by Phil Williams | Aug 12, 2013 | Definitions, General English, Grammar
In English, we often refer to periods of time as nouns. This means we name the period of time, and it may be used as a subject or object. Centuries, years, months, weeks, hours, and times of day can all be specific nouns. I do yoga on the second morning each week. My...