one can

one can
 be a grammatically tricky word. It takes a singular verb in straightforward constructions like "one out of every seven men is bald." But when extra words are attached to it - one or more, one of those - it ceases to govern the verb and the sense of the sentence becomes plural. Thus the sentence "Inside each folder is one or more sheets of information" should be "are one or more" and "Nott is one of those rare politicians who doesn’t mind what he says" should be "don’t mind what they say." A helpful trick to determine whether a singular or plural verb is needed is to invert the word order of the sentence: "Of those politicians who do not mind what they say, Nott is one."

Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • No One Can Do It Better — Studio album by The D.O.C. Released June 16, 1989 …   Wikipedia

  • No One Can Do It Better — «No One Can Do It Better» …   Википедия

  • No One Can Stop Mr. Domino! — Developer(s) Artdink Publisher(s) Acclaim Entertain …   Wikipedia

  • No One Can Hear You — Filmdaten Deutscher Titel No One Can Hear You Produktionsland USA …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • No One Can Hear You Scream — Infobox Album | Name = No One Can Hear You Scream Type = Album Artist = CrackHouse Released = Summer Of 1995 on Cassette Tape Genre = Gangsta Rap / Rap / Hardcore Label = Disobedient Nubian Records Producer = Otis D Light Last album = Talkin To… …   Wikipedia

  • bite off more than one can chew — {v. phr.}, {informal} To try to do more than you can; be too confident of your ability. * /He bit off more than he could chew when he agreed to edit the paper alone./ * /He started to repair his car himself, but realized that he had bitten off… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • bite off more than one can chew — {v. phr.}, {informal} To try to do more than you can; be too confident of your ability. * /He bit off more than he could chew when he agreed to edit the paper alone./ * /He started to repair his car himself, but realized that he had bitten off… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • No One Can Do It Better — est l album de The D.O.C. sorti en 1989 où plusieurs artistes ont fait leur apparition en tant que chanteurs comme N.W.A. ou compositeurs comme George Clinton, Dr Dre et Isaac Hayes. Titres de l album It s funky enough Mind blowin Lend me an ear… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • more than one can poke a stick at — adjective occurring in abundance; of a large quantity; many Check out this shop! They have more kinds of carpet than you can poke a stick at! Syn: more than one can shake a stick at …   Wiktionary

  • more than one can shake a stick at — adjective occurring in abundance; of a large quantity; many Any English High Street has more Indian Restaurants than you can shake a stick at. Syn: more than one can poke a stick at …   Wiktionary

  • more than one can chew — See: BITE OFF MORE THAN ONE CAN CHEW …   Dictionary of American idioms

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