Question

Would you use the word IS or ARE in the following sentence?:

These houses IS/ARE a blend of commerical and residential units.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Are is correct.

Answer 2

Okay, there's more to the sentence?

These houses are a blend of commerical and residential units that SERVE(S?) as the office as well.

Should it be SERVE or SERVES?

Answer 3

These houses (plural subject) are (plural verb to match) a blend of commercial and residential units (plural) that (pronoun referring to the plural noun "units") serve (plural verb to match) as the office as well.

I find a problem at the end of that sentence, though: How can "commercial and residential units" (plural) serve as "the office" (singular)???

Answer 4

I don't know, my dad wrote it. I'm trying to fix his grammar.

Thanks though.

Answer 5

Just ask him exactly what he means by the last part of that sentence. If he clarifies it for you, you should be able to make it make sense.

I have to do that with one of my grandsons all the time. He assumes that others will automatically know what he means! I have to keep questioning him ... and he's getting better ... slowly.

=)

Answer 6

These houses are a blend of commerical and residential units that may also serve as offices.

^Perhaps that is what he meant.

Answer 7

...serve as an* office~

Answer 8

"serve as offices" makes more sense, yes.

=)

Answer 9

Yeah, I see your point. Actually, I think only one of the houses is the office. So, I don't know, I'll ask him to claify. Thanks guys!