All you need is/are

[ashejane]

Is or are, what should be here? (I think are, but I've looked at it so much now that it has lost all meaning...)

To conclude, all you need is/are:

* A stop watch
* A pair of running shoes
* A water bottle

Thanks in advance!

[BarryDavidson]

I think the context would determine.

When you're about to get stomped, all you need is a few good words to get out of it.

When all you need are a few good words to get out of being stomped, why not use them?

[4rumid]

Barry, can you explain the difference? And which are you saying is right in ashejane's example?

[Celeste Stewart]

I disagree on this Barry: "When you're about to get stomped, all you need is a few good words to get out of it."

When you're about to get stomped, all you need are a few good words to get out of it.
When you're about to get stomped, all you need is a solid rebuttal consisting of a few good words to get out of it.
When you're about to get stomped, all you need is a good comeback to get out of it.

Interesting grammar question though! Is "all" like "group"? The group (of writers) is confused / The writers are confused - All (of the items) are listed/

Or is "all" more like "everything"? Everything you need is listed (not everything you need are listed).

Try rearranging:

A stop watch, a pair of running shoes, and a water bottle ARE all you need.
Therefore:
All you need ARE a stop watch, a pair of running shoes, and a water bottle.

[4rumid]

These kinds of issues drive me nuts. I agree with you, Celeste; I think "are" is right here . . . but I still can't figure out why. I'm not sure that reversing the sentence answers the question, because when you say "A stop watch, a pair of running shoes, and a water bottle ARE all you need" the subject of the sentence becomes a watch, shoes, etc., which of course are plural. Is that what makes "All" plural when it's the subject?

The "everything" comparison is interesting. Why is "everything" so clearly singular?

[BarryDavidson]

You're probably correct Celeste. I think part of the problem is word processing programs. Word, for example, tends to underline "are" a lot and recommend replacing with is, even if "are" is correct.

Here's what I do to determine, whether correct or not - which sounds better and flows off the tongue?

In reference to the original example, I believe "are" would be correct. Sorry I didn't get to that in my first post.

[ashejane]

Thanks guys! Are it is and are it shall remain!

[Lysis]

hmmmm, this question got me, so I looked it up on Ed's favorite place, Purdue!

Last section (#11)...I remember "all" is one of those things that takes a plural verb, but I wasn't sure (I'm not an English major, so sometimes I forget). Check this out:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/599/01/

[4rumid]

Lysis, I don't see this use of "all" explained in that link, did I miss it?

I think the example they use is "All of the books are in the box." But what if ashejane wanted to say "All you need is a stop watch?" You'd never use "are" in that sentence.

The quandary continues . . .

[Lysis]

I wouldn't be surprised if I got it all wrong. LOL The English stuff I remember is mostly from high school and my English1101 professor...and I took the basic English classes about 15 years ago to get them out of the way. LOL

[JD]

"Everything" could be classed as singular because it may be a (sort of) contraction of "every one thing," in much the same way that "everyone" is classed as singular ("everyone is waiting for the bus" - "every one person"). It's a bit like how some people use the word "none" in the singular, e.g. "none of the boys is missing." This is because "none" is a contraction (or was in Olde Englishe!) of "not one," e.g. "not one of the boys is missing." Although it's also perfectly acceptable nowadays to say, "none of the boys are missing."

I haven't actually sought out any proper grammar stuff about this - although I do know the "none" = "not one" bit - so this could be complete rubbish!

Jane

[jak]

If using "a few good words", the verb that goes with the noun "a few" should be singular. That's how I would decide on "is".

[Celeste Stewart]

Except for the minor detail that "few" is plural (Websters-Merriam: Few: noun, plural in construction: not many persons or things ~few were present~ few of his stories are true~ --- a few good words are all you need.

I guess I should look up "all" next :0

[4rumid]

Merriam-Webster's take on "all": pronoun, singular or plural in construction

Big help.