9

"A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the atrocities perpetrated by the Government of the People's Republic of China against Uyghurs, ethnic Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and members of other Muslim minority groups in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region constitutes genocide."

or

"A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the atrocities perpetrated by the Government of the People's Republic of China against Uyghurs, ethnic Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and members of other Muslim minority groups in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region constitute genocide."

Is constitute or constitutes correct?

Improve this question
3
  • 7
    If this is something you're writing (rather than trying to comprehend), I'd definitely recommend breaking up the sentence into smaller parts. If you do need sub-clauses consider wrapping them (in em-dashes or brackets) for more clarity. It also feels like a bit of a fragment rather than a full sentence at the moment — when you strip away the subclauses and adjectives you basically have "A resolution that the atrocities constitude genocide". Well, what about it?
    – anotherdave
    Commented Nov 4, 2020 at 15:24
  • 3
    @anotherdave: Re the fragment thing: This looks more like a (long) title than a sentence to me. Titles are frequently noun phrases.
    – Kevin
    Commented Nov 5, 2020 at 3:42
  • 1
    @Kevin Catchy! :) Yeah it does read like it looking back, now that you say it. I would avoid these type of wordy titles (unless in some area that requires a level of specificity — e.g. maybe some legal/academic contexts), especially as a ESL learner. Could instead have something like "A resolution passed by the Senate condemning the actions of the Chinese government as genocide" and then use an introductory bit to outline the specifics of what/where/how. Guess this is a point of style not grammar at that stage though, but just to point out that sometimes simpler language is much more readable.
    – anotherdave
    Commented Nov 5, 2020 at 9:58

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
48

Anybody is free to correct me, but I think "constitute" is the correct thing to say. I think you were confused because the sentence is VERY long, but the subject of the clause is "atrocities", which means that the verb has to be plural.

My reasoning:

When you remove everything between "atrocities" and "constitute", this is what you get:

"The atrocities constitute genocide."

Improve this answer
5
  • 7
    You are correct
    – user29750
    Commented Nov 4, 2020 at 8:30
  • 4
    Ah, thanks. This is the first time I've answered a question so I was a little anxious.
    – Joshua
    Commented Nov 4, 2020 at 14:01
  • 4
    Great first answer then!
    – Tashus
    Commented Nov 4, 2020 at 16:50
  • 2
    Thanks! This site has helped me out a lot so I want to help others when I can.
    – Joshua
    Commented Nov 4, 2020 at 17:04
  • 2
    If you use "consitutes" instead, it reads as though it's the resolution which constitutes genocide
    – Mohirl
    Commented Nov 6, 2020 at 13:19
-2

I'd say

  • The atrocities constitute genocide.

rather than

  • The atrocities constitutes genocide.
Improve this answer
4
  • 2
    Why would you say this? Please explain why one is better than the other.
    – curiousdannii
    Commented Nov 5, 2020 at 23:27
  • 2
    Hi Michael Hardy. This answer repeats what Joshua has already said - but with less explanation. Please read whatever others have written before writing a new answer. If you agree with a previous answer and want to support it, you can give it an upvote. Thanks.
    – chasly - supports Monica
    Commented Nov 6, 2020 at 14:03
  • @chasly-supportsMonica : This answer may be better because sometimes it's clearer if you say only what needs to be said.
    – Michael Hardy
    Commented Nov 7, 2020 at 1:18
  • @curiousdannii : Because the subject is singular. As in "The boy sings." and "The boys sing."
    – Michael Hardy
    Commented Nov 7, 2020 at 1:18

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .