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Which is correct? 1. What we want is additional resources. 2. What we want are additional resources.

My intention is by no means to test anyone here; I merely wish to verify something.

Thanks in advance.

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Question ajoutée par Ahmad Saleh , Part-time English Teacher , ITA
Date de publication: 2016/03/03
Pradeep Sharma
par Pradeep Sharma , English Language Training Instructor , King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah (KSA)

This is a tricky sentence since grammatically both the sentences appear to be correct. But here we have to look for appropriacy, and from that point of view 'What we want is addition resources' is correct, as in this case 'additional resources' is treated as one item [in the probable list] and therefore singular. 

Amir Ageeb
par Amir Ageeb , Content Senior Specialist , Elm Company

To answer the question we need to break down the phrase: "what we want," which means: the "thing" that we want; or the "thing", which we want.

It is clear that we are speaking about a singular noun "thing". Thus, the correct sentence is: what we want is additional resources.  

SeeAhmed Salama
par SeeAhmed Salama , English Teacher , Ministry of Education

According to bbclearningenglish.com, which is a good reference, the correct sentence is "what we want is additional resources". The verb should agree with the subject, not the object.

Likewise, a sentence like "His biggest problem is his inaccuracies" is correct.check the resource here;

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/_aae/page.shtml

Hossam Al-Hammadi
par Hossam Al-Hammadi , Senior Teacher & academic Coordinator , NITI

The correct answer is:  "What we want (is)...  because (is) here refers to the thing that we want to do...

so we are referring to a singular not plural

 

Utilisateur supprimé
par Utilisateur supprimé

What we want IS  - this is correct 

Gulam Mustafa Ali Khan
par Gulam Mustafa Ali Khan , Science & English Teacher , Madina Mission School, Hyderabad, India.

You  can say like this:

What we want is an additional resource?    or

What we want are additional resources?

Ali Yakub Seesi Rutherfod
par Ali Yakub Seesi Rutherfod , Deputy DIRECTOR of Education , Head of Department of Social Science , St. Jerome Snr High School

the correct answer is the first one.........................

Ismi Puji Hastuti
par Ismi Puji Hastuti , English Teacher , SMK Widya Taruna

The first one is the answer as already explained earlier. thank you

مها شرف
par مها شرف , معلمة لغة عربية , وزارة التربية السورية

The second answer correct. 

Daljinder Singh
par Daljinder Singh , Maintenance Coordinator , Al Futtaim Colas LLC

What we want is additional resources.

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