Decline of the English plural By Carl Stoll One gets skeptical at the constant belly-aching about how people

don't talk as good as they used to. Nonetheless, to my alarm I have discovered an ominous trend by virtue of which English grammar increasingly imitates Chinese grammar. Specifically the Chinese plural. (There is no Chinese plural.) I will provide some examples I have gathered over the years. In each case the subject of the verb is plural (i.e. >1) but the matching verb is singular: 1. "Hybrid cars (pl.) becomes (sing.) more interesting." -- A Wall Street Journal journalist on BBC world news 22 Jan 2006 2. The more modest improvements (pl.) ... has (sing.) been attributed to ..." -Oxford Illustrated Companion to Medicine, p 96 marginal note 3. Rapid economic growth in recent years and the proceeds (pl.) from privatization has (sing.) boosted public finances. From a report on the Icelandish economy, July 2008: 4. The restrictions (pl.) on commando operations has (sing.) angered senior Pentagon officials ... Washington Times, 9 July 2004 Article on "Embassies ..." 5. The idea that the ranges (pl.) of species was (sing.) due to the their spreading from a point of origination had several precursors before Darwin developed it in 1837. from Darwin's Precursors and Influences, by John Wilkins, online 6. The development and implementation (pl.) of methods and processes that can be utilized to prevent violent radicalization, homegrown terrorism, and ideologically based violence in the United States is (sing.) critical to combating domestic terrorism. [From a resolution passed by the US Congress in 2007] 7. Copies (pl.) of this report is (sing.) available from: (http://www.safealternatives.org/BCDreport.htm) 8. This $100 billion (pl.) does (sing.) not include fiduciary or custodial accounts ... Karin Lissakers: Banks, Borrowers and the Establishment, NY 1993, P 145 50 Years (pl.) Is (sing.) Enough (title of a book denouncing the World Bank) Although I am as ready to criticize the World Bank as the next biped, I couldn't help but cringe upon first seeing the title of a book bashing that venerable
9.

institution: 50 Years Is Enough. Deep within me a small voice said They certainly is. Examples 8 and 9 seem to represent a general trend. Many people appear to believe that if the subject of a verb contains a numeral greater than one, the verbs must be in the singular. Which seems a specimen of topsy-turvy thinking if there ever was one. I have assiduously searched in grammar books for some confirmation of this peculiar belief, but in vain, alas. Examples of this numerological fallacy abound: Eight Years Is Enough, etc. 10. Valid Previous Owner information is not required if valid Service Tag and Express Service Code information (pl.) is (sing.) provided below. Dell computer web site The subject of the sentence is plural and the verb singular: valid Service Tag and Express Service Code information is provided ... I consulted English professors, who are supposed to know about this kind of thing, and was rewarded by their confirmation of my observation. Apparently this is a inexorable secular trend, something like plate tectonics but where concepts like continental crust, magma, and the Mohorovicic discontinuity are replaced by terms like hard palate, uvula, glottal stop and affricates (as in Africa for the affricates!). I hereby baptize this long-term linguistic phenomenon the Great Singularization. I will conclude with an updated version of the US Declaration of Independence, as it will likely be read 50 years from now: We hold this truths to be self-evident, that all men is created equal, that they is endowed by its Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among this are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure this rights, Governments is instituted among Men, deriving its just powers from the consent of the governed,