In which combination of words is there an error: seven kittens and four of us? - briefly
The error in the phrase "seven kittens and four of us" lies in the lack of agreement between the subject and the verb. The correct phrase should be "seven kittens and four of us are," to properly reflect the plural subject.
In English, it is crucial to ensure that the verb agrees with its subject in number. When combining subjects with "and," the verb typically takes the plural form. Therefore, the phrase should be adjusted to maintain grammatical correctness.
In which combination of words is there an error: seven kittens and four of us? - in detail
The phrase "seven kittens and four of us" contains a grammatical error. To understand this, it is essential to examine the components of the phrase and their grammatical functions.
Firstly, "seven kittens" is a noun phrase where "seven" is a numeral adjective modifying "kittens," which is a plural noun. This part of the phrase is grammatically correct and clear in its meaning.
The issue arises with the phrase "four of us." In English, when using a numeral with a personal pronoun, the correct structure should be "four of them" or "four of you," depending on the referent. The phrase "four of us" is grammatically acceptable but, when combined with "seven kittens," it creates an awkward and potentially confusing construction.
The error lies in the lack of parallelism between the two noun phrases. The phrase "seven kittens" is a straightforward count of a plural noun, while "four of us" introduces a possessive element that does not align with the simple count of "seven kittens." This discrepancy can lead to ambiguity and is generally considered incorrect in formal or precise writing.
To correct the phrase, one should ensure that both parts of the compound subject are parallel in structure. For example, "seven kittens and four people" or "seven kittens and four of them" would be more grammatically accurate and clear.
In summary, the error in the phrase "seven kittens and four of us" stems from the lack of parallelism between the two noun phrases, which can lead to confusion and is generally considered incorrect in standard English usage.