Thank you for your help.
I have questions.
1. The eighth square on the second row needed 256 spoons of rice, which amounted to a bowl. correct
(You said 'correct.' In this sentence 'which' refers to '256 spoons of rice.' This one should be regarded as a singular subject. Right? Would you compare the last sentence?)
2. The eighth square on the second row needed 256 spoons of rice, and it amounted to a bowl. correct
3. The eighth square on the second row needed 256 spoons of rice, and they amounted to a bowl. incorrect
1-1. 256 spoons of rice amounts to a bowl. (#2) incorrect; "spoons" is plural, so the verb needs to be "amount"
2-1. 256 spoons of rice amount to a bowl. (#3) correct
(You said 'correct.' In this sentence, the subject is '256 spoons of rice, which was regarded as a plural subject. Right?
English - Writeacher, Thursday, September 1, 2011 at 10:44pm
This repetition is very confusing. Would you please post only the specific questions you have right now? Please post in the Post a New Question form.
==========
(Sorry, there was a mistake....)
2. The eighth square on the second row needed 256 spoons of rice, and it amounted to a bowl. correct
(You said 'correct.' In this sentence 'which' refers to '256 spoons of rice.' This one should be regarded as a singular subject. Right? Would you compare the last sentence?)
2-1. 256 spoons of rice amount to a bowl. (#3) correct
(You said 'correct.' In this sentence, the subject is '256 spoons of rice, which was regarded as a plural subject. Right? )
Thank you for your help.
1, 2, and 2-1 -- correct
3. The eighth square on the second row needed 256 spoons of rice, and they amounted to a bowl. incorrect
I said this was incorrect because it's not clear what the antecedent for "they" is. Is the antecedent "square"? Or "spoons"? I can't tell from the sentence.
2. The eighth square on the second row needed 256 spoons of rice, and it amounted to a bowl. correct
(You said 'correct.' In this sentence 'which' refers to '256 spoons of rice.' This one should be regarded as a singular subject. Right?<~~yes Would you compare the last sentence?)<~~I have no idea what you mean by this.
2-1. 256 spoons of rice amount to a bowl. (#3) correct
In this sentence 'amount' is a plural verb. If this sentence is correct, '256 spoons of rice' is a plural subject. right?
The eighth square on the second row needed 256 spoons of rice, which amounted to a bowl. correct
(In this sentence the antecedent of 'which' is '256 spoons of rice.'
Then, which can be changed into 'and they'? They refers to '256 spoons of rice.'
In short, '256 spoons of rice' is plural, if we use 'and they.'
'256 spoons of rice' is singular, if we use 'and it' instead of ',which'?
The sentence "The eighth square on the second row needed 256 spoons of rice, which amounted to a bowl" is correct.
In this sentence, the pronoun "which" refers to "256 spoons of rice." It is correct to regard "256 spoons of rice" as a singular subject because it is being referred to as a whole entity. Therefore, the verb "amounted" should be used.
Regarding the comparison between the last two sentences:
"The eighth square on the second row needed 256 spoons of rice, and it amounted to a bowl." This sentence is also correct. The pronoun "it" refers to the scenario or situation described in the previous clause, which is the need for 256 spoons of rice. In this case, "it" can be considered a singular subject as well.
"The eighth square on the second row needed 256 spoons of rice, and they amounted to a bowl." This sentence is incorrect. The pronoun "they" refers to "256 spoons of rice" and should be used if considering the spoons as individual items. However, in this context, where the focus is on the amount of rice needed, it is more appropriate to regard "256 spoons of rice" as a singular subject.
In conclusion, both sentences 2 and 2-1 are correct. The choice between using a singular or plural verb depends on how you want to treat the subject "256 spoons of rice" - either as a singular entity or as a collective noun.