When it comes to the words “contains” and “contain,” many English language learners and even native speakers often find themselves confused. Which one is correct? Which one should I use in my sentence? In this discussion, I will shed light on this grammatical conundrum and provide you with a clear explanation so that you can confidently choose the right word in any given situation.
To start, let’s dissect the meanings of these two words. “Contains” and “contain” are both verbs that describe the act of holding or including something within a larger entity. The main difference lies in their tenses. “Contains” is the third-person singular form of the verb, while “contain” is the base form that can be used with all other subjects.
For instance, imagine you are talking about a box filled with various items. If you want to say that the box includes something, you would use the word “contains” when referring to it in the third-person singular. For example, “The box contains a set of keys.” However, if you are referring to the box in any other context or subject, you would use “contain.” For instance, “The boxes contain books and toys.” or “I contain my excitement as I open the box.”
Now, let’s explore some more examples to solidify our understanding. Consider the sentence, “The book ______ important information.” Which word, “contains” or “contain,” should fill in the blank? Since we are referring to a single book in the third-person singular, we would use “contains.” Thus, the correct sentence is, “The book contains important information.”
On the other hand, if we are talking about multiple books, we would use “contain.” An example could be, “The library shelves contain books on a wide variety of topics.” In this case, we are discussing the shelves collectively as the subject, which can be plural, so “contain” is the correct choice.
Let’s further explore this distinction with a metaphorical example. Imagine you are talking about the capabilities of a smartphone. You might say, “This device ______ a powerful camera.” In this sentence, we are discussing a singular smartphone, so we use “contains.” Therefore, the correct sentence is, “This device contains a powerful camera.” However, if we modify the sentence slightly to focus on multiple smartphones, we would say, “These devices contain powerful cameras.” Here, “devices” is the plural subject, so we use “contain.”
In summary, “contains” is the appropriate choice when referring to a singular subject in the third-person singular form. On the other hand, “contain” is the correct verb to use with any other subject, whether singular or plural. By understanding this distinction, you can confidently use these words in your writing and conversation.
So, the next time you encounter the words “contains” and “contain,” remember to analyze the subject of your sentence – is it singular or plural? Once you determine that, you can easily choose the correct form of the verb. With practice, using these words accurately will become second nature to you.
Now that we have explored and clarified this grammatical query, you can confidently choose between “contains” and “contain” in your writing and communication. Happy exploring and expanding your linguistic skills!