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ESL forum >
Ask for help > one jacket or two jackets
one jacket or two jackets
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gharbi2009
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one jacket or two jackets
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I �m a bit confused whether to consider the subject plural or singular in this sentence: The grey and the blue jacket is / are mine. |
18 Nov 2015
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kohai
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You are speaking about two different things - the grey (jacket ) and the blue jacket so they both are yours. But if the sentence would be about one jacket in two colours you should say �the grey and blue jacket is mine �. |
18 Nov 2015
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Mr Atef
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The grey and blue jacket is mine. (One jacket) The grey and blue jackets are mine.( Two jackets)
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18 Nov 2015
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gharbi2009
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Kohai do you imply that the use of the definite article with the blue jacket makes the difference? |
18 Nov 2015
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yanogator
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Actually, your sentence doesn �t work either way. It can be The gray and blue jacket is mine. The gray and the blue jackets are mine. You can �t say "The grey and the blue jacket..." Bruce |
18 Nov 2015
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Jayho
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Hi gharbi2009
Re your question on the definite article:
You can�t use the second article in your first example.
In the second example, you can use the second article if you wish (but it is not necessary) but you do need to make jacket plural because you are talking about more than one jacket.
Also, you�ll notice that there are two spellings: grey (UK) and gray (US).
Cheers
Jayho |
18 Nov 2015
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cunliffe
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Just to add that the second sentence, although correct, sounds a bit awkward. I really think people would say �The grey jacket and the blue jacket are both mine. � |
19 Nov 2015
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