Target Test Prep 20% Off Flash Sale is on! Code: FLASH20

Redeem
Target Test Prep
5-Day Free Trial
5-day free, full-access trial TTP

Available with Beat the GMAT members only code

MORE DETAILS
Target Test Prep
Magoosh
Magoosh
Study with Magoosh GMAT prep

Available with Beat the GMAT members only code

MORE DETAILS
Magoosh

"Look at those cars. Theirs (is/are) really ugly"

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 58
Joined: Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:13 am

"Look at those cars. Theirs (is/are) really ugly"

by doctortt » Sat May 23, 2009 10:59 am
I have been doing some serious studies in pronoun for SC, and I found this sentence from a grammar site on the Internet.

"Look at those cars. Theirs is really ugly."

Why does the posessive, theirs, use is instead of are when it's clearly talking about "cars."

Is this just one of those English rules?
Top
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 22
Joined: Thu Aug 14, 2008 1:16 pm
Location: silicon valley
Thanked: 1 times
GMAT Score:590

"Look at those cars. Theirs is really ugly."

by batman73 » Mon Jun 08, 2009 7:31 am
"Look at those cars. Theirs is really ugly."

I believe this sentence discusses several cars in the first sentence, but in the second it is possessive to a group. Categorizing in a group makes it singular. That is the best analysis I can give. I believe the sentence is correct
Top
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1