Roughly one out of every seven children ...

Hathor · Nov 17, 2009

has special needs or have special needs? Since I am dealing with many children, I used the plural verb form. But Word insists I should use the singular. Now I have looked at it so long that neither one looks correct.

I could rewrite the sentence easily, but now I'm curious.

Shadow_Ferret · Nov 17, 2009

Has. Because it's the One, not all children.

Snowstorm · Nov 17, 2009

Exactly. The subject is the one child, not the seven.

Kitty Pryde · Nov 17, 2009

I vote for has too. Rewrite the sentence as One child out of seven has special needs, and it's easier to see

Judg · Nov 17, 2009

Children is the object of the preposition of and therefore can not be the subject of the sentence. Word, for once, is right.

Hathor · Nov 18, 2009

OK, you all have convinced me. Now, I have to tell my husband who is insistent that "have" is correct.

absitinvidia · Nov 18, 2009

and this is why sentence diagramming isn't as worthless as some would have us believe . . .

C.bronco · Nov 18, 2009

one has

Adagio · Nov 29, 2009

absitinvidia said:
and this is why sentence diagramming isn't as worthless as some would have us believe . . .

Would you (or anyone else) like to elaborate on this, please? I'm interested, and very serious about it. Is it the equivalent of sentence structure? I think I have an idea of what might be, but still I wish to learn more.

Or maybe I should open a new thread on this topic?

Thank you,
Adagio

Wayne K · Nov 29, 2009

One in seven. Is that an example or a fact?

If it's fact, it's frightening that we don't invest in education.

Judg · Nov 29, 2009

Adagio said:
Would you (or anyone else) like to elaborate on this, please? I'm interested, and very serious about it. Is it the equivalent of sentence structure? I think I have an idea of what might be, but still I wish to learn more.

Or maybe I should open a new thread on this topic?

Thank you,
Adagio

Yes, diagramming a sentence is creating a visual representation of its structure. A couple of helpful links:

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/diagrams/diagrams.htm

http://www.lifestreamcenter.net/DrB/Lessons/TS/diagram.htm

Adagio · Nov 29, 2009

Judg said:
Yes, diagramming a sentence is creating a visual representation of its structure. A couple of helpful links:

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/diagrams/diagrams.htm

http://www.lifestreamcenter.net/DrB/Lessons/TS/diagram.htm

Wonderful! Indeed, helpful sites. I like the power point representation.

Thank you very much, Judg.

Adagio

mbroadway · Nov 29, 2009

You could always rewrite it...

Out of every seven children, one has (whatever)

Roughly one out of every seven children ...

Hathor

Goddess of Rationalization

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester

Snowstorm

Baby plot bunneh sniffs out a clue

Kitty Pryde

i luv you giant bear statue

Judg

DISENCHANTED coming soon

Hathor

Goddess of Rationalization

absitinvidia

A bit of a wallflower

C.bronco

I have plans...

Adagio

Wayne K

Judg

DISENCHANTED coming soon

Adagio

mbroadway

Owned a Monkey — Once