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Use "is" or "are" with a word ending in

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Use "is" or "are" with a word ending in

by jsk173 » Fri Aug 20, 2010 2:17 pm
As asked in the "subject" line, which is correct in a sentence such as this that has a parenthetical (s) used to indicate the possibility of a noun being plural:

"I don't believe any challenge(s) is / are forthcoming."

I've always tended to read such parentheticals as being singular, but "are" seems correct, if only for readability reasons. Thanks very much.
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by Gurpinder » Fri Aug 20, 2010 6:50 pm
jsk173 wrote:As asked in the "subject" line, which is correct in a sentence such as this that has a parenthetical (s) used to indicate the possibility of a noun being plural:

"I don't believe any challenge(s) is / are forthcoming."

I've always tended to read such parentheticals as being singular, but "are" seems correct, if only for readability reasons. Thanks very much.
I am not quite sure what you are asking. But challenge should have the verb is and challenges should have the verb are.
"Do not confuse motion and progress. A rocking horse keeps moving but does not make any progress."
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by this_time_i_will » Fri Aug 20, 2010 7:57 pm
IMO such 'double' subject should have 'double' verb.
"I don't believe any challenge(s) is (are) forthcoming."

i have never seen such questions in GMATLand though.
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