Our BetterMost Community > Chez Tremblay
Heath Heath Heath
MaineWriter:
--- Quote from: BelAir on January 06, 2008, 05:43:23 pm ---L - wouldn't it be more correct to say "the pair have one child together" - or is had right because the actual birthing is over...?
--- End quote ---
It is not an issue of the birth, but whether "pair" is considered singular or plural...and when it is referring to people, apparently it can be either. This is from dictionary.com
Pair signifying two individuals can take either a singular or plural verb, but it is usually followed by a plural verb and referred to by a plural pronoun: The guilty pair have not been seen since their escape.
So either "had" or "have" would be correct.
L
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: MaineWriter on January 06, 2008, 06:37:29 pm ---It is not an issue of the birth, but whether "pair" is considered singular or plural...and when it is referring to people, apparently it can be either. This is from dictionary.com
Pair signifying two individuals can take either a singular or plural verb, but it is usually followed by a plural verb and referred to by a plural pronoun: The guilty pair have not been seen since their escape.
So either "had" or "have" would be correct.
--- End quote ---
I think it's not that the actual birthing is over, but that the pair is over. If the sentence read "The pair have one child together," it would sound like they were still a pair.
I think singular is more technically correct, but it just sounds too weird -- "the pair has one child together."
MaineWriter:
--- Quote from: ineedcrayons on January 06, 2008, 07:17:07 pm ---I think it's not that the actual birthing is over, but that the pair is over. If the sentence read "The pair have one child together," it would sound like they were still a pair.
I think singular is more technically correct, but it just sounds too weird -- "the pair has one child together."
--- End quote ---
Had is past tense, which probably implies that the pair is over, they had a baby, and is correct since pair can be singular or plural (in this case singular).
Has, by itself (not as a helper verb) is present tense, and would imply that they are still together. The same with have (which is plural)..."The pair have a child together" would imply they are still together.
So, probably, all in all, "The pair had a child together" is the best usage.
Funny, they can get their grammar correct but not their facts! LOL
L
(PS, thanks to Louise who assisted me on this grammar consultation)
PPS, I am sure the non-native English speakers who regularly visit this thread (Chrissi, Snavel, Belbmmfan) will really appreciate this impromptu grammar lesson! LOL
yb:
--- Quote from: dot-matrix on January 06, 2008, 01:16:47 pm --- :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
That's Priceless!
Heath certainly has Monster Balls here lately if the tabloid news of his various exploits are to be believed
--- End quote ---
LOL! Yeah, what was I thinking! Obviously I was not sober when I wrote that.
yb:
--- Quote from: MaineWriter on January 06, 2008, 07:50:48 pm ---
PPS, I am sure the non-native English speakers who regularly visit this thread (Chrissi, Snavel, Belbmmfan) will really appreciate this impromptu grammar lesson! LOL
--- End quote ---
Eh, you've forgotten me.
And, thanks for this lesson, using the correct tense and prepositions have been very trying iindeed.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version