GMAT Verbal & Essays

which is correct?

"more than one feature that distinguishes " OR "more than one features that distinguish"?

sorry this is just doubt that ran across my mind. hope any one can answer.

one features is wrong acc. to me
if it was one of the features then it is OK.

Thanks for the great question.

Correct: "Gorillas have more than one feature that distinguishes them from other primates."
Incorrect: "Gorillas have more than one feature that distinguish them from other primates."

The verb "distinguishes" here is in a clause that describes the singular "feature." What Gorillas "have" is "more than one" of something. The "something" here is a "feature." The "feature that distinguishes them from other primates" is the full description of this something, with "that distinguishes them from other primates" acting as an adjective clause, describing the singular "feature."

When you see a verb in an adjective clause, think: what noun is this verb describing? When a new subject is not introduced in the clause, the verb must agree with the noun described.

Hopefully helpful,
Josh

josh@knewton wrote:Thanks for the great question.

Correct: "Gorillas have more than one feature that distinguishes them from other primates."
Incorrect: "Gorillas have more than one feature that distinguish them from other primates."

The verb "distinguishes" here is in a clause that describes the singular "feature." What Gorillas "have" is "more than one" of something. The "something" here is a "feature." The "feature that distinguishes them from other primates" is the full description of this something, with "that distinguishes them from other primates" acting as an adjective clause, describing the singular "feature."

When you see a verb in an adjective clause, think: what noun is this verb describing? When a new subject is not introduced in the clause, the verb must agree with the noun described.

Hopefully helpful,
Josh

thanks Josh for your response. In regards to same query, can you let me know if the following sentence is correct?

"Gorillas have more than one features that distinguish them from other primates"

iamcste wrote:

josh@knewton wrote:Thanks for the great question.

Correct: "Gorillas have more than one feature that distinguishes them from other primates."
Incorrect: "Gorillas have more than one feature that distinguish them from other primates."

The verb "distinguishes" here is in a clause that describes the singular "feature." What Gorillas "have" is "more than one" of something. The "something" here is a "feature." The "feature that distinguishes them from other primates" is the full description of this something, with "that distinguishes them from other primates" acting as an adjective clause, describing the singular "feature."

When you see a verb in an adjective clause, think: what noun is this verb describing? When a new subject is not introduced in the clause, the verb must agree with the noun described.

Hopefully helpful,
Josh

thanks Josh for your response. In regards to same query, can you let me know if the following sentence is correct?

"Gorillas have more than one features that distinguish them from other primates"

The sentence can not have MORE THAN ONE if you are want to use FEATURES .

To use MORE THAN ONE you need to use FEATURE.

Ex : Gorillas have features that distinguish them from other primates

Will be correct .

Hope this helps .