On the usage of the expression “What differentiate(s)”?

Question

**Question one:** Which of the following sentences are grammatically correct? 1) What differentiate apples from oranges are their colors and sizes. 2) What differentiates apples from oranges is their colors and sizes. 3) What differentiates an apple from oranges is its colors and sizes. 4) What differentiates an apple from oranges are their colors and sizes. 5) What differentiate apples and oranges are their colors and sizes. **Question two:** Do you have any alternatives for the above sentences? I've searched the web to understand which expression to use, but I could not find a specific rule.

Answer 1

Good question! Sentences 2 and 3 are both correct. Here is why:

1. "What" is your subject and it is singular. That means it needs a singular verb. (Singular verbs often end with the letter "s.") So "What differentiates...is..." is correct.
2. In sentence 2, you have "apples" (plural) and "oranges" (plural), so "their colors and sizes" is correct. "Apple" (plural) goes with "their" (plural).
3. In sentence 3, you have "AN apple" (singular) and "oranges" (plural). Because the singular "apple" is first, "its colors and sizes" is correct--"its" is singular. (Although, technically, you'd want to say "its color and size" because there is only one apple.)

Regarding question two, I would say sentence 2 is your best bet. However, when you are uncertain, try rewording the sentence completely. "The differences between apples and oranges can be seen in their color and size." or "Color and size are just two of the obvious differences between apples and oranges."

Answer 2

Hello,

Great question. The sentences might sound a little funky because of your usage of "What" at the beginning of the sentence. It muddies the subject of the sentence and the usage of the verb "differentiate."

An alternative:

1. Apples differentiate from oranges by their color and size.
2. The differentiation between apples and oranges are their colors and sizes.

Answer 3

Remember that the number of the verb (singular or plural) follows the number of the subject, not the material following the verb. That said, it can sound awkward, as you point out so well in your examples.

As the least clunky option, I would go with "You can tell an apple from an orange by its size and color."

Also, just as a side note, you really can't tell these fruits apart by size, right?

Best wishes!

Answer 4

None seem correct...

What differentiates apples from oranges is their relative size and hue.

I do not agree with this statement. Apples and oranges differ because of genetics. Apples are from the genus Malus. Oranges derive from the genus Citrus.