The Community CampaignNational Cancer Council (Majlis Kanser Negara, MAKNA) has launched a community campaign, Sens Saves [sic] Lives since 1 December 2005 till 31 March 2006.
The Store, Pacific and Milimewa have joined this campaign by putting a donation box on each of the cashier counters. This public service campaign aims to help those pitiful children suffering cancer and the ladies suffering breast cancer. This meaningful campaign doesn't make sense! Why?
Singular or Plural?
Here is the Question: Which of the following sentences is/are correct?
i) Sens saves lives.
ii) Sen saves lives.
iii) Sens save lives
iv) Sen save lives.
v) Sens save life.
vi) Sen save life.
Note: The word 'sen' is Malaysian English for the word 'cent'.
Subject-Verb Agreement
Grammar Rule: Verb must always agree with the subject.
i) Wrong. 'Sens' is a subject in plural form, so the verb next to it must be in plural form too! The plural form for the verb 'save' is 'save'.
ii) Correct but doesn't make sense. How 1 sen can save many lives?
iii) Correct and makes sense.
iv) Wrong. 'Sen' is a subject in singular form, so the verb next to it must be in singular form too! The singular form for the verb 'save' is 'saves'.
v) Correct and makes sense only if the campaign aimed to save one life.
vi) Wrong. 'Sen' is a subject in singular form, so the verb next to it must be in singular form too! The singular form for the verb 'save' is 'saves'.
Sens Saves Lives Doesn't Make Sense
In conclusion, subject-verb agreement in the sentence determines whether it makes sense or not.
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