Okay, is or are?? Solve this argument.

[StaceyinLA]

So, we were talking about a bill, and my son says, "The other 72 dollars is not from me." My daughter says it should be "are not." So, when you are talking about dollars, is it not a singular item that would be is? As in, "That hundred dollars is in your drawer."

 

Solve our discussion.

[freetobeme]

i think your son is correct. $72 is a singular amount.

:001_smile:

[Denise in Florida]

I tried to respond, confused myself, and had to go to lunch instead. :lol:

 

I will watch for the answer.

[Serendipity]

That hundred dollar BILL is in your drawer. (if it is one bill)

 

The hundred DOLLARS are in your drawer. (dollars is plural)

You shouldn't say, "That hundred dollars is in your drawer.", if it is only a bill.

 

The other $72 are not from me. (dollars is plural and understood to be present)

 

Because 72 what? 72 dollarS. 72 what? 72 duckS. NOT 72 dollar. Not 72 duck.

 

Hth...

 

:)

 

Oh, and anyone out there correct me, please, if I'm wrong. I'm sure I messed up the punctuation surrounding my quotation marks...lol. :)

Edited November 14, 2010 by Serendipity
to add the word 'up'

[Word Nerd]

"Is" is correct, as you aren't counting the dollars individually but as a single unit.

[Chris in VA]

I'm not sure, because both kinda sound right to my ear.

I lean toward "is" because the $72 is taken as one quantity, and because of the word other.

In the following sentence, the $72 is taken as a single quantity.

 

"$72 is the price of the coat."

 

Maybe it's the same for the OP's sentence?

[LittleIzumi]

That hundred dollar BILL is in your drawer. (if it is one bill)

 

The hundred DOLLARS are in your drawer. (dollars is plural)

You shouldn't say, "That hundred dollars is in your drawer.", if it is only a bill.

 

The other $72 are not from me. (dollars is plural and understood to be present)

 

Because 72 what? 72 dollarS. 72 what? 72 duckS. NOT 72 dollar. Not 72 duck.

 

Hth...

 

:)

 

Oh, and anyone out there correct me, please, if I'm wrong. I'm sure I messed up the punctuation surrounding my quotation marks...lol. :)

:iagree:

[Word Nerd]

Please cite your sources for your answer. Grammar isn't determined by personal preference. :)

 

Here are mine:

Subject and Verb Agreement (Rule 12)

Purdue OWL Subject/Verb Agreement (#7)

Edited November 14, 2010 by WordGirl

[Serendipity]

Ooh. I googled subject-verb agreement and yes, the word 'other' does seem to make the $72 need the verb: is.

 

One example I came across was: That coat is $50.

According to that website, we wouldn't say: That coat are $50 because $50 is a single unit of money.

 

BUT...Doesn't the verb depend on the subject of the sentence which is actually COAT?

 

So would it be correct to say, "That other $72 is not from me." ???

 

Well, since the point is subject-verb agreement...What is the subject of the sentence? Is it other? Other is an adjective.

 

Is the subject $72? Yes. So what does that mean in regard to the verb? I am googling...lol!

 

So, basically...We need Ellie to help us out here.

 

;)

[Word Nerd]

Ooh. I googled subject-verb agreement and yes, the word 'other' does seem to make the $72 need the verb: is.

 

One example I came across was: That coat is $50.

According to that website, we wouldn't say: That coat are $50 because $50 is a single unit of money.

 

BUT...Doesn't the verb depend on the subject of the sentence which is actually COAT?

 

So would it be correct to say, "That other $72 is not from me." ???

 

Well, since the point is subject-verb agreement...What is the subject of the sentence? Is it other? Other is an adjective.

 

Is the subject $72? Yes. So what does that mean in regard to the verb? I am googling...lol!

 

So, basically...We need Ellie to help us out here.

 

;)

 

See my second post above.

[Elizabeth in WA]

Per Purdue OWL, your son is correct:

 

Note: the word dollars is a special case. When talking about an amount of money, it requires a singular verb, but when referring to the dollars themselves, a plural verb is required.

Five dollars is a lot of money.

Dollars are often used instead of rubles in Russia.

[Serendipity]

AHA! So, plural forms of measurement such as dollars do take a singular verb. However, there ARE exceptions, such as when one is counting said dollars individually.

 

WordGirl, I'm so glad you edited your source post to add another sentence and a smiley. :) 'Cause I'm like, really? What's there to get all uptight about? We're all having a casual conversation and trying to figure things out and WHAMMO.

 

:)

[LittleIzumi]

Ah, I checked Chicago and I apparently misremembered. Singular is preferred. Oops. Thanks for making me check :)

[Paige]

I was on the side of it being singular before reading the thread because of the use of the word "other" in the subject. I think that would force a singular verb regardless of if the word dollars should always take a singular or not.