If you're one of the people who grow/grows up speaking Chinese . .
Is it grow or grows?
On one hand, I think it should be grows because it's pertaining to "one," but on the other hand, it might be grow because "people" is closer.
I've seen somewhat similar issues on this site, but none that follow the same structure, so I want to be sure.
verb-agreement
asked yesterday
SIRASIRA
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Is it grow or grows?
On one hand, I think it should be grows because it's pertaining to "one," but on the other hand, it might be grow because "people" is closer.
I've seen somewhat similar issues on this site, but none that follow the same structure, so I want to be sure.
verb-agreement
asked yesterday
SIRASIRA
61
New contributor
SIRA is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
I'm sure we have a few questions about the same subject.
– Centaurus
yesterday
1
There are a number of questions on EL&U dealing with close proximity singular/plural issues. The consensus is that there is a real ambiguity and usage expresses this by being split. The remedy (again, a consensus) is to to avoid the ambiguity by re-phrasing. Here, 'one of the people who grew up' resolves the singular/plural problem.
– Nigel J
23 hours ago
add a comment |
Is it grow or grows?
On one hand, I think it should be grows because it's pertaining to "one," but on the other hand, it might be grow because "people" is closer.
I've seen somewhat similar issues on this site, but none that follow the same structure, so I want to be sure.
verb-agreement
asked yesterday
SIRASIRA
61
New contributor
SIRA is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Is it grow or grows?
On one hand, I think it should be grows because it's pertaining to "one," but on the other hand, it might be grow because "people" is closer.
I've seen somewhat similar issues on this site, but none that follow the same structure, so I want to be sure.
verb-agreement
verb-agreement
asked yesterday
SIRASIRA
61
New contributor
SIRA is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked yesterday
SIRASIRA
61
New contributor
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Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked yesterday
SIRASIRA
61
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asked yesterday
SIRASIRA
61
asked yesterday
SIRASIRA
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61
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1
I'm sure we have a few questions about the same subject.
– Centaurus
yesterday
1
There are a number of questions on EL&U dealing with close proximity singular/plural issues. The consensus is that there is a real ambiguity and usage expresses this by being split. The remedy (again, a consensus) is to to avoid the ambiguity by re-phrasing. Here, 'one of the people who grew up' resolves the singular/plural problem.
– Nigel J
23 hours ago
add a comment |
1
I'm sure we have a few questions about the same subject.
– Centaurus
yesterday
1
There are a number of questions on EL&U dealing with close proximity singular/plural issues. The consensus is that there is a real ambiguity and usage expresses this by being split. The remedy (again, a consensus) is to to avoid the ambiguity by re-phrasing. Here, 'one of the people who grew up' resolves the singular/plural problem.
– Nigel J
23 hours ago
1
1
I'm sure we have a few questions about the same subject.
– Centaurus
yesterday
I'm sure we have a few questions about the same subject.
– Centaurus
yesterday
1
1
There are a number of questions on EL&U dealing with close proximity singular/plural issues. The consensus is that there is a real ambiguity and usage expresses this by being split. The remedy (again, a consensus) is to to avoid the ambiguity by re-phrasing. Here, 'one of the people who grew up' resolves the singular/plural problem.
– Nigel J
23 hours ago
There are a number of questions on EL&U dealing with close proximity singular/plural issues. The consensus is that there is a real ambiguity and usage expresses this by being split. The remedy (again, a consensus) is to to avoid the ambiguity by re-phrasing. Here, 'one of the people who grew up' resolves the singular/plural problem.
– Nigel J
23 hours ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
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Nither one as 'grows' is possessive but present tense and 'grow' is also present tense. I believe you are looking for "grew" as in "If you're one of the people who grew up speaking Chinese..." which is past tense of grow.
answered yesterday
Jessica WarnerJessica Warner
213
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No, I mean to keep it in present tense because the sense of the sentence is to state something that is true in general, be it the past, present, or future. That's why I use simple present tense. So my question assumes I want to keep it in present tense.
– SIRA
yesterday
In that case, due to 'are' being a plural verb, you'd stick with 'grow' in the plural form. What is to grow in plural form
– Jessica Warner
yesterday
Not because of "you are" but because of "people". People who grow up learning and speaking Chinese. People is plural and is the subject of grow.
– Centaurus
yesterday
@SIRA If you want to keep it in the present tense, you should rephrase more than just the verb: If you are somebody who grows up speaking Chinese. Or, alternately, If you are one of the people growing up to speak Chinese. Note, however, that the simple present cannot refer to the past—and what follows the sentence fragment in question will also likely mark it as explicitly referring to the present or the future, rather than letting it be ambiguous.
– Jason Bassford
21 hours ago
add a comment |
It depends on how you parse the sentence, but verbs should (naturally) agree with whatever they are agreeing with, not simply the closest bit.
If you parse the quote to say that the grower is the “one”, use singular agreement:
- If you’re (one of the people) who grows up ...
But if you parse the quote to say that the growers were the people, use plural agreement:
- If you’re one of (the people who grow up ...) ...
The difference becomes clearer if we simplify by breaking the quote into two parts:
- There are people who grow up speaking Chinese. If you are one of them, ...
If you consider the word “grow” to bind more tightly to the first part, use plural agreement. If the second, use singular agreement.
answered 21 hours ago
LawrenceLawrence
31.5k563112
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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Nither one as 'grows' is possessive but present tense and 'grow' is also present tense. I believe you are looking for "grew" as in "If you're one of the people who grew up speaking Chinese..." which is past tense of grow.
answered yesterday
Jessica WarnerJessica Warner
213
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Jessica Warner is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
No, I mean to keep it in present tense because the sense of the sentence is to state something that is true in general, be it the past, present, or future. That's why I use simple present tense. So my question assumes I want to keep it in present tense.
– SIRA
yesterday
In that case, due to 'are' being a plural verb, you'd stick with 'grow' in the plural form. What is to grow in plural form
– Jessica Warner
yesterday
Not because of "you are" but because of "people". People who grow up learning and speaking Chinese. People is plural and is the subject of grow.
– Centaurus
yesterday
@SIRA If you want to keep it in the present tense, you should rephrase more than just the verb: If you are somebody who grows up speaking Chinese. Or, alternately, If you are one of the people growing up to speak Chinese. Note, however, that the simple present cannot refer to the past—and what follows the sentence fragment in question will also likely mark it as explicitly referring to the present or the future, rather than letting it be ambiguous.
– Jason Bassford
21 hours ago
add a comment |
Nither one as 'grows' is possessive but present tense and 'grow' is also present tense. I believe you are looking for "grew" as in "If you're one of the people who grew up speaking Chinese..." which is past tense of grow.
answered yesterday
Jessica WarnerJessica Warner
213
New contributor
Jessica Warner is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
No, I mean to keep it in present tense because the sense of the sentence is to state something that is true in general, be it the past, present, or future. That's why I use simple present tense. So my question assumes I want to keep it in present tense.
– SIRA
yesterday
In that case, due to 'are' being a plural verb, you'd stick with 'grow' in the plural form. What is to grow in plural form
– Jessica Warner
yesterday
Not because of "you are" but because of "people". People who grow up learning and speaking Chinese. People is plural and is the subject of grow.
– Centaurus
yesterday
@SIRA If you want to keep it in the present tense, you should rephrase more than just the verb: If you are somebody who grows up speaking Chinese. Or, alternately, If you are one of the people growing up to speak Chinese. Note, however, that the simple present cannot refer to the past—and what follows the sentence fragment in question will also likely mark it as explicitly referring to the present or the future, rather than letting it be ambiguous.
– Jason Bassford
21 hours ago
add a comment |
Nither one as 'grows' is possessive but present tense and 'grow' is also present tense. I believe you are looking for "grew" as in "If you're one of the people who grew up speaking Chinese..." which is past tense of grow.
answered yesterday
Jessica WarnerJessica Warner
213
New contributor
Jessica Warner is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Nither one as 'grows' is possessive but present tense and 'grow' is also present tense. I believe you are looking for "grew" as in "If you're one of the people who grew up speaking Chinese..." which is past tense of grow.
answered yesterday
Jessica WarnerJessica Warner
213
New contributor
Jessica Warner is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered yesterday
Jessica WarnerJessica Warner
213
New contributor
Jessica Warner is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered yesterday
Jessica WarnerJessica Warner
213
answered yesterday
Jessica WarnerJessica Warner
213
213
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New contributor
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No, I mean to keep it in present tense because the sense of the sentence is to state something that is true in general, be it the past, present, or future. That's why I use simple present tense. So my question assumes I want to keep it in present tense.
– SIRA
yesterday
In that case, due to 'are' being a plural verb, you'd stick with 'grow' in the plural form. What is to grow in plural form
– Jessica Warner
yesterday
Not because of "you are" but because of "people". People who grow up learning and speaking Chinese. People is plural and is the subject of grow.
– Centaurus
yesterday
@SIRA If you want to keep it in the present tense, you should rephrase more than just the verb: If you are somebody who grows up speaking Chinese. Or, alternately, If you are one of the people growing up to speak Chinese. Note, however, that the simple present cannot refer to the past—and what follows the sentence fragment in question will also likely mark it as explicitly referring to the present or the future, rather than letting it be ambiguous.
– Jason Bassford
21 hours ago
add a comment |
No, I mean to keep it in present tense because the sense of the sentence is to state something that is true in general, be it the past, present, or future. That's why I use simple present tense. So my question assumes I want to keep it in present tense.
– SIRA
yesterday
In that case, due to 'are' being a plural verb, you'd stick with 'grow' in the plural form. What is to grow in plural form
– Jessica Warner
yesterday
Not because of "you are" but because of "people". People who grow up learning and speaking Chinese. People is plural and is the subject of grow.
– Centaurus
yesterday
@SIRA If you want to keep it in the present tense, you should rephrase more than just the verb: If you are somebody who grows up speaking Chinese. Or, alternately, If you are one of the people growing up to speak Chinese. Note, however, that the simple present cannot refer to the past—and what follows the sentence fragment in question will also likely mark it as explicitly referring to the present or the future, rather than letting it be ambiguous.
– Jason Bassford
21 hours ago
No, I mean to keep it in present tense because the sense of the sentence is to state something that is true in general, be it the past, present, or future. That's why I use simple present tense. So my question assumes I want to keep it in present tense.
– SIRA
yesterday
No, I mean to keep it in present tense because the sense of the sentence is to state something that is true in general, be it the past, present, or future. That's why I use simple present tense. So my question assumes I want to keep it in present tense.
– SIRA
yesterday
In that case, due to 'are' being a plural verb, you'd stick with 'grow' in the plural form. What is to grow in plural form
– Jessica Warner
yesterday
In that case, due to 'are' being a plural verb, you'd stick with 'grow' in the plural form. What is to grow in plural form
– Jessica Warner
yesterday
Not because of "you are" but because of "people". People who grow up learning and speaking Chinese. People is plural and is the subject of grow.
– Centaurus
yesterday
Not because of "you are" but because of "people". People who grow up learning and speaking Chinese. People is plural and is the subject of grow.
– Centaurus
yesterday
@SIRA If you want to keep it in the present tense, you should rephrase more than just the verb: If you are somebody who grows up speaking Chinese. Or, alternately, If you are one of the people growing up to speak Chinese. Note, however, that the simple present cannot refer to the past—and what follows the sentence fragment in question will also likely mark it as explicitly referring to the present or the future, rather than letting it be ambiguous.
– Jason Bassford
21 hours ago
@SIRA If you want to keep it in the present tense, you should rephrase more than just the verb: If you are somebody who grows up speaking Chinese. Or, alternately, If you are one of the people growing up to speak Chinese. Note, however, that the simple present cannot refer to the past—and what follows the sentence fragment in question will also likely mark it as explicitly referring to the present or the future, rather than letting it be ambiguous.
– Jason Bassford
21 hours ago
add a comment |
It depends on how you parse the sentence, but verbs should (naturally) agree with whatever they are agreeing with, not simply the closest bit.
If you parse the quote to say that the grower is the “one”, use singular agreement:
- If you’re (one of the people) who grows up ...
But if you parse the quote to say that the growers were the people, use plural agreement:
- If you’re one of (the people who grow up ...) ...
The difference becomes clearer if we simplify by breaking the quote into two parts:
- There are people who grow up speaking Chinese. If you are one of them, ...
If you consider the word “grow” to bind more tightly to the first part, use plural agreement. If the second, use singular agreement.
answered 21 hours ago
LawrenceLawrence
31.5k563112
add a comment |
It depends on how you parse the sentence, but verbs should (naturally) agree with whatever they are agreeing with, not simply the closest bit.
If you parse the quote to say that the grower is the “one”, use singular agreement:
- If you’re (one of the people) who grows up ...
But if you parse the quote to say that the growers were the people, use plural agreement:
- If you’re one of (the people who grow up ...) ...
The difference becomes clearer if we simplify by breaking the quote into two parts:
- There are people who grow up speaking Chinese. If you are one of them, ...
If you consider the word “grow” to bind more tightly to the first part, use plural agreement. If the second, use singular agreement.
answered 21 hours ago
LawrenceLawrence
31.5k563112
add a comment |
It depends on how you parse the sentence, but verbs should (naturally) agree with whatever they are agreeing with, not simply the closest bit.
If you parse the quote to say that the grower is the “one”, use singular agreement:
- If you’re (one of the people) who grows up ...
But if you parse the quote to say that the growers were the people, use plural agreement:
- If you’re one of (the people who grow up ...) ...
The difference becomes clearer if we simplify by breaking the quote into two parts:
- There are people who grow up speaking Chinese. If you are one of them, ...
If you consider the word “grow” to bind more tightly to the first part, use plural agreement. If the second, use singular agreement.
answered 21 hours ago
LawrenceLawrence
31.5k563112
It depends on how you parse the sentence, but verbs should (naturally) agree with whatever they are agreeing with, not simply the closest bit.
If you parse the quote to say that the grower is the “one”, use singular agreement:
- If you’re (one of the people) who grows up ...
But if you parse the quote to say that the growers were the people, use plural agreement:
- If you’re one of (the people who grow up ...) ...
The difference becomes clearer if we simplify by breaking the quote into two parts:
- There are people who grow up speaking Chinese. If you are one of them, ...
If you consider the word “grow” to bind more tightly to the first part, use plural agreement. If the second, use singular agreement.
answered 21 hours ago
LawrenceLawrence
31.5k563112
edited 20 hours ago
answered 21 hours ago
LawrenceLawrence
31.5k563112
answered 21 hours ago
LawrenceLawrence
31.5k563112
answered 21 hours ago
LawrenceLawrence
31.5k563112
31.5k563112
add a comment |
add a comment |
SIRA is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
SIRA is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
SIRA is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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1
I'm sure we have a few questions about the same subject.
– Centaurus
yesterday
1
There are a number of questions on EL&U dealing with close proximity singular/plural issues. The consensus is that there is a real ambiguity and usage expresses this by being split. The remedy (again, a consensus) is to to avoid the ambiguity by re-phrasing. Here, 'one of the people who grew up' resolves the singular/plural problem.
– Nigel J
23 hours ago