dead was / were

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A mortuary is a place where the dead was / were kept.

1. I believe 'were' should be used. Am I correct?
2. If 'dead' a suitable word? Or should it be 'bodies' or 'corpses'?

Many thanks.

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A mortuary is a place where the dead

Look at the first part of your sentence. What tense does the sentence appear to be?

I believe you are capable of matching the tense in the second part of the sentence. If you are still unsure post again.

2. If 'dead' a suitable word? Or should it be 'bodies' or 'corpses'?

"the dead" is suitable. So also is "bodies" or "corpses". Often English speakers seem to like to colour or euphamise the subject of death using flowery language. Corpses could be seen as "harsh" but is suitable for technical discussions such as police or medical work.

"The bodies of deceased persons" would be most suitable.

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Thanks, Dadpad.

It should be 'A mortuary is a place where the dead is / are kept.'

I believe 'are' should be used. Am I correct?

Sorry for the careless error.

Many thanks.

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How many dead people are kept in a mortuary?

More than one? You are capable of answering the question yourself yoong.

It is not that I wish you not to ask your questions. It is that you do not use your mind to the fullest. You know more of English sentence construction than I do and should be more confident in your abilities.

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dadpad wrote:

How many dead people are kept in a mortuary?

More than one? You are capable of answering the question yourself yoong.

It is not that I wish you not to ask your questions. It is that you do not use your mind to the fullest. You know more of English sentence construction than I do and should be more confident in your abilities.

Hi Dadpad

The answer given by the book is 'A mortuary is the place where the dead is kept.' I just want to prove to my daughter that the book's answer is wrong. She trusts native speakers more than me. She wants to see the reply from a native speaker. That's why I need to show her a reply from a native speaker. Also, she trusts the book's writer more than me.

I hope you understand my position.

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Tell your daughter to believe you first!

Quote:

The answer given by the book is 'A mortuary is the place where the dead is kept.

This is incorrect! The book is incorrect!

A mortuary is a place where deceased persons are kept prior to burial.

My own daughter (English is her first language) spent 12 months living in Sweden. As part of her schooling she took an English class where the teacher tried to convince her that deer and moose have antenna. (Antenna belong to radios and televisions and insects). We think the teacher meant antlers.

Extra work if you want it.
How do you write the singular and plural forms of antenna?

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Hi Dadpad

antenna (singular)
antennae (plural)

Am I correct?

You can pose questions to me and I'm willing to learn. My daugher trusts the books and her teachers too much and that poses a problem to me.

Merry Xmas.

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Yoong Liat wrote:

Hi Dadpad

antenna (singular)
antennae (plural)

Am I correct?

Indeed you are, well done! Many high school students would be troubled by that question.

Yoong Liat wrote:

Merry Xmas.

I wish Peace and joy for your family all year.

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Dadpad,

I've given you a clear picture why some of my questions appear so 'stupid' that you wonder why I ask such questions. Sometimes I'm asking on my daughter's behalf.

I wish you and your family the very best.

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I have never thought your questions stupid. I have thought them ...lazy. I apologise for that thought.

Perhaps you, your daughter and her class may enjoy this thread. It is about a stuffed toy belonging to the daughter of another A2k regular that is travelling around the world with the help of regular a2k'ers.

http://www.able2know.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=96041&start=0

I would encorage you to participate and show "Penny the hamster" around your part of the world as there is no asian part of the journey.

The philosophy is to show children about the rest of the world.

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Dadpad, I'm glad that I've cleared your misconception of me. I'm a perfectionist and would go to great lengths to learn the correct things.

Best wishes.

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Perhaps the confusion comes from the fact that "the dead" is a collective noun.

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SULLYFISH66 wrote:

Perhaps the confusion comes from the fact that "the dead" is a collective noun.

I agree with you.

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dadpad wrote:

Yoong Liat wrote:
Hi Dadpad

antenna (singular)
antennae (plural)

Am I correct?

Indeed you are, well done! Many high school students would be troubled by that question.

I don't think that they would be at all troubled, Dadpad. They'd follow the rules of English and write 'antennas'. The other, with 'e' follows a rule that is for a different language.

All languages borrow words but they don't borrow rules. The default rule for English is "add an <s>".

Of course, 'antennae' is also available for use.

Best of the season to you and I hope that the New Year treats you well.

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