I'm trying to make sure my writing is correct for the following sentence:
The list of functionality has/have to be implemented
But I'm confused about has or have there.
Asked
Active
Viewed 4,715 times
-1
-
possible duplicate of A number of questions "has been" or "have been" asked? – Ronan Apr 01 '14 at 13:14
-
2Because unicorns. – tchrist Apr 01 '14 at 13:15
-
1@tchrist: Is there some point to all your recent unicorn comments? It's passing me by. – FumbleFingers Apr 01 '14 at 13:20
-
2@FumbleFingers I bought the “Only valid close reason is ‘ ’ ” options with my Unicoins, so that’s all I can closevote with now. – tchrist Apr 01 '14 at 13:22
-
@tchrist: oic. I've been away for a while, so I dint know about unicoins. Not that I can see the rationale behind offering that "special power" in the first place. I just grabbed myself a "halve everyone else's reputation" before it dawned on me my anarchistic tendency would presumably only be visible to me personally. The struggle against the existing "ruling class" will not be won so easily, I feel. – FumbleFingers Apr 01 '14 at 15:32
-
If you're happy with implementing a list rather than the recommendations / procedures / ideas ... in the list, it's 'has to be'. – Edwin Ashworth Apr 01 '14 at 16:46
2 Answers
1
The subject of your sentence, "list," is singular, so your verb should agree with the subject and should be singular, or "has." Confusion may come from your awareness that there are many items on the list. In British English, I have noticed the use of a plural verb with a subject that appears singular but connotes many, e.g., "The company have moved to address this problem...." implying that not one, but many people are involved in the action. In America, this would always be "The company has moved...." In your question, the list does not appear to connote many individual items as your meaning is that the entire list (of items) requires implementation. Your sentence could be clearer in that the term "of functionality" is out of context [functionality of what?], but that would not change my answer.
MaryW
- 26
