Is or are again

Question

Consider this sentence -

"Across from , to , and in from , to , is/are plenty of examples of obsolete buildings given new life."

I wrote this sentence using 'are' because examples is plural, but MS Word underlined it and suggests 'is'. Then I thought is 'plenty of examples' considered singular????

Who's right? me or MS Word????

thanks

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

Consider this sentence -

"Across Europe from London, Copenhagen, Berlin to Warsaw, and in Asia from Beijing, Shanghai to Tokyo, is/are plenty of examples of obsolete buildings given new life."

I wrote this sentence using 'are' because examples is plural, but MS Word underlined it and suggests 'is'. Then I thought is 'plenty of examples' considered singular????

Who's right? me or MS Word??

Both 'is' and 'are' are used and considered acceptable. I prefer 'are' here.

Your list of cities does not work well here. I suggest this.

Across Europe from London to Copenhagen, Berlin to Warsaw, and in Asia from Beijing and Shanghai to Tokyo, there are plenty of examples of obsolete buildings given new life."

Best wishes, Clive

Anonymous · Answer

cheers Clive.

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousWho's right? me Me or MS Word??

You. However, the first part of the sentence is so unusual that you've managed to confuse MS Word into making that mistake.

Note Clive's advice for fixing it.

CJ

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