' (NOT What live...) When who and what are used to ask for
the complement of a clause, they can have plural verbs.
'Who are your closest friends?' '(My closest friends are) Naomi and Bridget.'
'What are your politics?" (My politics are) extreme left-wing.' Relative what-c\auses are normally the
subject of a singular verb.
What she needs is friends. (More natural them What she needs are friends.) However, plural verbs are
often used before longer plural complements, especially if what is a long way from the verb (see 506).
What we need most of all are some really new ideas.
4 here's, there's and where's ; p,
In an informal style, here's, there's and where's are often used with plural nouns. Some people consider
this incorrect.
Here's your keys.
There's some children at the door.
Where's those books I lent you? >
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5 determiners
When none, neither, either and any are followed by of+ plural noun/pronoun, they are normally used with
singular verbs in a formal style in British English. Plural verbs are common in informal British usage and
generally in American English.
None of the cures really works, (formal British)
None of the cures really work. (informal British; American)
Neither of my brothers has/have been outside England.
Has/Have either of them been seen recently?
If any of the children gets/get hungry, they can have an orange.
6 another, a/an + adjective
Plural expressions of quantity can be used with another (see 53) and with a/an + adjective.
/ want to stay for another three weeks.
We 'II need an extra ten pounds.
He's been waiting for a good twenty-five minutes.
She spent a happy ten minutes looking through the photos.
I've had a very busy three days.
' ' Note also the expression a good many/few + plural (informal). I've lain awake a good many nights
worrying about you. I bet that house could tell a good few stories.
7 kind, sort and type
In an informal style, we sometimes mix singular and plural forms when we use demonstratives with kind,
sort or type. For details, see 526. I don't like those kind of boots.
8 every (frequency)
Every (which is normally used with singular nouns) can be used before plural expressions in
measurements of frequency. I go to Ireland every six weeks.
9 fractions
Fractions between 1 and 2 are normally used with plural nouns. It weighs one and a half tons. (NOT.. .
one and a halftone The house has about 1.75 hectares of land.
For more about the grammar of fractions and other numbers, see 385.
9t0 slang
1 What is slang?
'Slang' is a very informal kind of vocabulary, used mostly in speech by people who know each other well.
Examples:
See you down at the boozer, {pub) He's a real prat. (fool) OK, let's shove off. (go) Wait a minute - my
shoelace has bust. (broken)
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Slang expressions are not usually written, and would be considered out of place in formal kinds of
communication.
2 strong feelings
Many English slang expressions relate to things that people feel strongly about (e.g. sex, family and
emotional relationships, drink, drugs, conflict between social groups, work, physical and mental illness,
death).
I spent the weekend at my gran's, (grandmother's)
We got smashed last night, (drunk)
Prods out! (Protestants)
Can you get that sitrep to the MD by five? '•^ (situation report; Managing Director)
I've got some sort of bug. (illness)
He's lost his marbles, (gone mad)
When I kick the bucket, I want you all to have a big party, (die) Slang is often used in order to be offensive.
Shut your gob! (mouth)
3 group membership; using slang
Many slang expressions are used by members of particular social and professional groups, and nearly all
slang is used between people who know each other well or share the same social background. So it is
usually a mistake for 'outsiders' (including foreigners) to try deliberately to use slang. This can give the
impression that they are claiming membership of a group that they do not belong to. There is also the
danger that the slang may be out of date - when slang gets into books, it is often already dead. It is best to
wait until one is really becoming accepted as part of a community; one will then start using their slang
naturally and correctly along with the rest of their
language.
511 small and little
Small simply refers to size. It is the opposite of big or large (see 105).
Could I have a small brandy, please?
You're too small to be a policeman. , ' Usually, the adjective little not only refers to size, but also
expresses some
kind of emotion.
Poor little thing-come here and let me look after you.
'What's he like?' 'Oh, he's a funny little man.'
What's that nasty little boy doing in our garden? Tell the little so-and-so
to get out.
They've bought a pretty little house in the country. In a few fixed expressions, little is used in the same
way as small or short. little finger the little hand of a clock a little while a little way ^
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In British English, little is unusual in 'predicative' position (after a verb), and comparative and superlative
forms are not normally used. In American
English, predicative use is normal, and comparative and superlative forms are more common.
Sorry, honey, you're too little to watch horror movies. (GB ...you're too small...)
He's the Uttlest baby I ever saw. (GB... the smallest baby...) For little used as a determiner (e.g. There's
little hope), see 322.
512 smell
1 British and American forms
In British English, smell has an irregular past tense and past participle: smelt. American forms are usually
regular.
2 copularverb
Smell can be used as a 'copular verb', followed by adjective or noun
complements (see 147), to say what sort of smell something has. Progressive forms are not used.
Those roses smell beautiful. (NOT ... smell bcauttfittty:) The soup smells funny. What's in it? (NOT .. .4s
smelling funny...)
Before a noun, smell of and smell like are used. The railway carriage smelt of beer and old socks. His
aftershave smelt like an explosion in a flower shop.
Smell is sometimes used to mean 'smell bad'. That dog smells.
3 transitive verb: 'perceive'
Smell can be used as a transitive verb, followed by an object, to say what we
perceive with our noses. Progressive forms are not used. We often use can smell (see 125).
As we walked into the house, we smelt something burning. I can smell supper.
4 transitive verb: 'investigate'
Another transitive use is to say that we are using our noses to find out something. Progressive forms can
be used.