In English grammar, the sentence ‘The population of China is larger than those in Japan’ might cause some confusion, especially when it comes to the use of the word ‘is’. Let’s break down this sentence and understand the rules behind the correct use of the verb ‘is’ in comparative structures.
1. Understanding the Sentence Structure
The sentence compares the population of China with ‘those in Japan’. The word ‘those’ here refers to the populations of Japan, making it plural. The issue arises when deciding whether ‘is’ (singular) should be used with ‘those’ (plural).
2. Why ‘is’ is Incorrect in This Context
In English, when you compare a singular subject with a plural subject, you have to ensure the subject-verb agreement is correct. In this case, the subject ‘population’ is singular, and ‘those’ refers to multiple people (populations), making it a plural subject. Therefore, using ‘is’ with a plural subject (‘those’) leads to a grammatical error. The correct verb to use should be ‘are’.
3. The Correct Version of the Sentence
The correct sentence would be: ‘The population of China is larger than the populations of Japan.’ This structure maintains subject-verb agreement by keeping ‘population’ singular and ‘populations’ plural, aligning with the rule that a singular subject takes a singular verb and a plural subject takes a plural verb.
4. Conclusion
In conclusion, ‘is’ should not be used when comparing a singular subject (‘population’) with a plural subject (‘those’ referring to populations). The correct structure should ensure that both parts of the comparison are grammatically consistent, which is why ‘are’ should be used instead of ‘is’. This ensures proper subject-verb agreement and clarity in the sentence.
コメント