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Noun clause (singular all the time?)

Should there be a comma after 'and'?Plural of noun and concept takes singular verb?Difference between an adverb modifying an NP consisting a single noun, and an adverb modifying a nounClause QuestionWhy plural noun and verb in singular form, present tense takes 's'?whatever - Are these all noun clauses?How to determine the number of the noun phrase 'a world of + plural noun'?embedded interrogative Clause when quoting“the only one of + plural noun” = singular or plural verb? (focus on the only)superlative + relative clause

.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;

3

1

I have asked one grammarian about this and she ended up being unsure of her answer.
Question: is there a possibility that a noun clause is used in a plural manner? For instance:
- Her eyes and nose are WHAT SCARE ME.
- WHAT SCARE ME are her eyes and nose.

Should the word "scare" be "scares" in the examples?
Should "are" be "is" then?

grammar verb-agreement noun-phrases

share|improve this question

asked Apr 27 at 19:31

Fadli SheikhFadli Sheikh

273

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  For plural I would prefer Those which scare me are .... Because "what" is inherently singular.
  
  – aparente001
  Apr 28 at 5:57
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

3

1

I have asked one grammarian about this and she ended up being unsure of her answer.
Question: is there a possibility that a noun clause is used in a plural manner? For instance:
- Her eyes and nose are WHAT SCARE ME.
- WHAT SCARE ME are her eyes and nose.

Should the word "scare" be "scares" in the examples?
Should "are" be "is" then?

grammar verb-agreement noun-phrases

share|improve this question

asked Apr 27 at 19:31

Fadli SheikhFadli Sheikh

273

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  For plural I would prefer Those which scare me are .... Because "what" is inherently singular.
  
  – aparente001
  Apr 28 at 5:57
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

I have asked one grammarian about this and she ended up being unsure of her answer.
Question: is there a possibility that a noun clause is used in a plural manner? For instance:
- Her eyes and nose are WHAT SCARE ME.
- WHAT SCARE ME are her eyes and nose.

Should the word "scare" be "scares" in the examples?
Should "are" be "is" then?

grammar verb-agreement noun-phrases

share|improve this question

asked Apr 27 at 19:31

Fadli SheikhFadli Sheikh

273

share|improve this question

asked Apr 27 at 19:31

Fadli SheikhFadli Sheikh

273

share|improve this question

asked Apr 27 at 19:31

Fadli SheikhFadli Sheikh

273

asked Apr 27 at 19:31

Fadli SheikhFadli Sheikh

273

asked Apr 27 at 19:31

Fadli SheikhFadli Sheikh

273

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

5

Interesting question :)

I'd say this is an example of a fused relative (see e.g. CaGEL* p 1073); that is, what scares me is not a clause at all, but a noun phrase, where what is a fusion between the head function and the relativised element of a postmodifying relative clause. In this case it could be paraphrased either as that which scares me where that is the head, and which is the relativised subject of the postmodifying relative clause which scares me, or as the things which scare me, where the determiner the, the head things and the relativised subject of the postmodifying relative clause which scare me have fused.

In answer to your question, then, it could be what scare me are her eyes and nose as well as what scares me is her eyes and nose.

share|improve this answer

edited Apr 27 at 22:08

answered Apr 27 at 21:18

HannahHannah

348210

• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Yeah, it's short for the thing that scares me, or in this case, it could just as easily be the things that scare me. Since this is a commutable verb phrase, Her eyes and nose are what scare(s) me is just as good. And either singular or plural will do for scare(s), since what can mark either number. It depends, in other words, on what you mean.
  
  – John Lawler
  Apr 27 at 21:48
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @JohnLawler Thank you – that's what I was uncertain about. I'll edit my answer to make it clearer :)
  
  – Hannah
  Apr 27 at 21:59
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Well said, Hannah. +1
  
  – BillJ
  Apr 28 at 7:15
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @BillJ Thank you. Means a lot coming from you :)
  
  – Hannah
  Apr 28 at 7:20
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

-1

It's right as you had it: 'scare' and 'are'. 'Eyes and nose' are three things and require plural verbs. 'what' doesn't have separate singular and plural forms.

share|improve this answer

answered Apr 27 at 21:08

Philip WoodPhilip Wood

4556

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  The first part of the first example is correct, yes, but not the rest, right? Is that what you mean? Also, I'm curious about your last sentence there – "'what' doesn't have separate singular and plural forms" – what do you mean by that? Would it be possible to clarify?
  
  – Hannah
  Apr 27 at 21:23
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  (a) "Her eyes and nose are WHAT SCARE ME." - "WHAT SCARE ME are her eyes and nose." Both are right. (b) 'What' is always 'what'; it doesn't change form according to whether one object or more than one object is being referred to.
  
  – Philip Wood
  Apr 27 at 21:31
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Ah, right, now I see what you meant by that last sentence, and of course you're right about that – that it doesn't change its form, I mean. It's always singular. :) I disagree with the rest though – surely it should be Her eyes and nose are what scares me and What scares me is her eyes and nose respectively?
  
  – Hannah
  Apr 27 at 21:38
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  'what' ISN'T singular: 'what' can refer to either singular or plural.In your sentence you can replace "what" by "the things that". I'd like to apologise for an unintentionally patronising tone, by the way.
  
  – Philip Wood
  Apr 27 at 21:48
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Hannah- 'what' asks a question, and does not presume to know the quantity beforehand. Although the answer may be singular or plural, we can see by the agreement that it is usually used in a singular way, and we do not ask questions like "*what are in the fridge", "*what fall from the sky", "*what are on TV tonight", even when we expect a plural answer.
  
  – AmI
  Apr 28 at 4:01
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 4 more comments

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5

Interesting question :)

I'd say this is an example of a fused relative (see e.g. CaGEL* p 1073); that is, what scares me is not a clause at all, but a noun phrase, where what is a fusion between the head function and the relativised element of a postmodifying relative clause. In this case it could be paraphrased either as that which scares me where that is the head, and which is the relativised subject of the postmodifying relative clause which scares me, or as the things which scare me, where the determiner the, the head things and the relativised subject of the postmodifying relative clause which scare me have fused.

In answer to your question, then, it could be what scare me are her eyes and nose as well as what scares me is her eyes and nose.

share|improve this answer

edited Apr 27 at 22:08

answered Apr 27 at 21:18

HannahHannah

348210

• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Yeah, it's short for the thing that scares me, or in this case, it could just as easily be the things that scare me. Since this is a commutable verb phrase, Her eyes and nose are what scare(s) me is just as good. And either singular or plural will do for scare(s), since what can mark either number. It depends, in other words, on what you mean.
  
  – John Lawler
  Apr 27 at 21:48
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @JohnLawler Thank you – that's what I was uncertain about. I'll edit my answer to make it clearer :)
  
  – Hannah
  Apr 27 at 21:59
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Well said, Hannah. +1
  
  – BillJ
  Apr 28 at 7:15
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @BillJ Thank you. Means a lot coming from you :)
  
  – Hannah
  Apr 28 at 7:20
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

5

Interesting question :)

I'd say this is an example of a fused relative (see e.g. CaGEL* p 1073); that is, what scares me is not a clause at all, but a noun phrase, where what is a fusion between the head function and the relativised element of a postmodifying relative clause. In this case it could be paraphrased either as that which scares me where that is the head, and which is the relativised subject of the postmodifying relative clause which scares me, or as the things which scare me, where the determiner the, the head things and the relativised subject of the postmodifying relative clause which scare me have fused.

In answer to your question, then, it could be what scare me are her eyes and nose as well as what scares me is her eyes and nose.

share|improve this answer

edited Apr 27 at 22:08

answered Apr 27 at 21:18

HannahHannah

348210

• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Yeah, it's short for the thing that scares me, or in this case, it could just as easily be the things that scare me. Since this is a commutable verb phrase, Her eyes and nose are what scare(s) me is just as good. And either singular or plural will do for scare(s), since what can mark either number. It depends, in other words, on what you mean.
  
  – John Lawler
  Apr 27 at 21:48
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @JohnLawler Thank you – that's what I was uncertain about. I'll edit my answer to make it clearer :)
  
  – Hannah
  Apr 27 at 21:59
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Well said, Hannah. +1
  
  – BillJ
  Apr 28 at 7:15
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @BillJ Thank you. Means a lot coming from you :)
  
  – Hannah
  Apr 28 at 7:20
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

Interesting question :)

I'd say this is an example of a fused relative (see e.g. CaGEL* p 1073); that is, what scares me is not a clause at all, but a noun phrase, where what is a fusion between the head function and the relativised element of a postmodifying relative clause. In this case it could be paraphrased either as that which scares me where that is the head, and which is the relativised subject of the postmodifying relative clause which scares me, or as the things which scare me, where the determiner the, the head things and the relativised subject of the postmodifying relative clause which scare me have fused.

In answer to your question, then, it could be what scare me are her eyes and nose as well as what scares me is her eyes and nose.

share|improve this answer

edited Apr 27 at 22:08

answered Apr 27 at 21:18

HannahHannah

348210

share|improve this answer

edited Apr 27 at 22:08

answered Apr 27 at 21:18

HannahHannah

348210

answered Apr 27 at 21:18

HannahHannah

348210

answered Apr 27 at 21:18

HannahHannah

348210

-1

It's right as you had it: 'scare' and 'are'. 'Eyes and nose' are three things and require plural verbs. 'what' doesn't have separate singular and plural forms.

share|improve this answer

answered Apr 27 at 21:08

Philip WoodPhilip Wood

4556

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  The first part of the first example is correct, yes, but not the rest, right? Is that what you mean? Also, I'm curious about your last sentence there – "'what' doesn't have separate singular and plural forms" – what do you mean by that? Would it be possible to clarify?
  
  – Hannah
  Apr 27 at 21:23
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  (a) "Her eyes and nose are WHAT SCARE ME." - "WHAT SCARE ME are her eyes and nose." Both are right. (b) 'What' is always 'what'; it doesn't change form according to whether one object or more than one object is being referred to.
  
  – Philip Wood
  Apr 27 at 21:31
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Ah, right, now I see what you meant by that last sentence, and of course you're right about that – that it doesn't change its form, I mean. It's always singular. :) I disagree with the rest though – surely it should be Her eyes and nose are what scares me and What scares me is her eyes and nose respectively?
  
  – Hannah
  Apr 27 at 21:38
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  'what' ISN'T singular: 'what' can refer to either singular or plural.In your sentence you can replace "what" by "the things that". I'd like to apologise for an unintentionally patronising tone, by the way.
  
  – Philip Wood
  Apr 27 at 21:48
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Hannah- 'what' asks a question, and does not presume to know the quantity beforehand. Although the answer may be singular or plural, we can see by the agreement that it is usually used in a singular way, and we do not ask questions like "*what are in the fridge", "*what fall from the sky", "*what are on TV tonight", even when we expect a plural answer.
  
  – AmI
  Apr 28 at 4:01
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 4 more comments

-1

It's right as you had it: 'scare' and 'are'. 'Eyes and nose' are three things and require plural verbs. 'what' doesn't have separate singular and plural forms.

share|improve this answer

answered Apr 27 at 21:08

Philip WoodPhilip Wood

4556

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  The first part of the first example is correct, yes, but not the rest, right? Is that what you mean? Also, I'm curious about your last sentence there – "'what' doesn't have separate singular and plural forms" – what do you mean by that? Would it be possible to clarify?
  
  – Hannah
  Apr 27 at 21:23
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  (a) "Her eyes and nose are WHAT SCARE ME." - "WHAT SCARE ME are her eyes and nose." Both are right. (b) 'What' is always 'what'; it doesn't change form according to whether one object or more than one object is being referred to.
  
  – Philip Wood
  Apr 27 at 21:31
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Ah, right, now I see what you meant by that last sentence, and of course you're right about that – that it doesn't change its form, I mean. It's always singular. :) I disagree with the rest though – surely it should be Her eyes and nose are what scares me and What scares me is her eyes and nose respectively?
  
  – Hannah
  Apr 27 at 21:38
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  'what' ISN'T singular: 'what' can refer to either singular or plural.In your sentence you can replace "what" by "the things that". I'd like to apologise for an unintentionally patronising tone, by the way.
  
  – Philip Wood
  Apr 27 at 21:48
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Hannah- 'what' asks a question, and does not presume to know the quantity beforehand. Although the answer may be singular or plural, we can see by the agreement that it is usually used in a singular way, and we do not ask questions like "*what are in the fridge", "*what fall from the sky", "*what are on TV tonight", even when we expect a plural answer.
  
  – AmI
  Apr 28 at 4:01
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 4 more comments

It's right as you had it: 'scare' and 'are'. 'Eyes and nose' are three things and require plural verbs. 'what' doesn't have separate singular and plural forms.

share|improve this answer

answered Apr 27 at 21:08

Philip WoodPhilip Wood

4556

share|improve this answer

answered Apr 27 at 21:08

Philip WoodPhilip Wood

4556

answered Apr 27 at 21:08

Philip WoodPhilip Wood

4556

answered Apr 27 at 21:08

Philip WoodPhilip Wood

4556