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My Name Is OR My Names Are,which Is Grammatically Correct? - Education - Nairaland 5r1l1o

My Name Is OR My Names Are,which Is Grammatically Correct? (79140 Views)

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Djicemob: 7:37pm On Jul 03, 2015
My Name Is....

My Names Are...


This has caused serious arguments between me and friends couple of times so i decided to bring it to the house.English Language Gurus and Linguists,what are your take on the above phrases,which is better and grammatically correct when introducing oneself.Hopefully we can all learn a thing or two from your inputs.

16 Likes

umar745(m): 7:39pm On Jul 03, 2015
Answers plz. I also wanna know

2 Likes 4 Shares

StarMogul(m): 7:40pm On Jul 03, 2015
"My name is" is grammatically correct because it refers to a particular individual.

111 Likes 4 Shares

Shortyy(f): 7:41pm On Jul 03, 2015
my name is Goodluck. my names are Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

119 Likes 11 Shares

delishpot: 7:42pm On Jul 03, 2015
My Name is

8 Likes 4 Shares

Pineapp: 7:42pm On Jul 03, 2015
My "name is"=singular.

My "names are"=plural..


Both phrases are correct depending on the situation.

44 Likes 4 Shares

Re: My Name Is OR My Names Are,which Is Grammatically Correct? by Nobody: 7:44pm On Jul 03, 2015
Shortyy:
my name is Goodluck. my names are Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
Exactly.....its concord..... "is" agrees with singular while "are" goes with plural.

13 Likes

STANPASQUAL(m): 7:46pm On Jul 03, 2015
My name is STANPASQUAL!! my names are Stan Pasqual!!

7 Likes 2 Shares

piicity(m): 7:49pm On Jul 03, 2015
Ishilove and misclassy oya come and tell us if you're sure you are very good in english

6 Likes 2 Shares

Djicemob: 8:01pm On Jul 03, 2015
Shortyy:
my name is Goodluck. my names are Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
Something doesnt sound or look right about saying "my names are..."

219 Likes 4 Shares

Djicemob: 8:02pm On Jul 03, 2015
piicity:
Ishilove and misclassy oya come and tell us if you're sure you are very good in english
And MizMycoli too wink

4 Likes 1 Share

JigsawKillah(m): 8:03pm On Jul 03, 2015
My name na Jigsaw is correcter than una's grin grin
Quote me if I right

11 Likes

Shortyy(f): 8:04pm On Jul 03, 2015
Djicemob:
Something doesnt sound or look right about saying my "my name are..."
my names are not "my name are" didn't you notice the s at the back of the name? jeeeez.

6 Likes

Djicemob: 8:06pm On Jul 03, 2015
elego1:
My name IS buhari.
my names ARE Muhammadu Buhari.

you use 'is' if u wanna say only ur first name or ur last name and u use 'are' if u wanna say ur full name.
If am wrong pls quote me.
But your name and your lastname is your identity representing you as a singular entity cheesy

323 Likes 24 Shares

Djicemob: 8:07pm On Jul 03, 2015
Shortyy:

my names are not "my name are" didn't you notice the s at the back of the name? jeeeez.
It was actually a typo from me,I actually meant the name(s) with an S.

3 Likes

Shortyy(f): 8:10pm On Jul 03, 2015
Djicemob:
It was actually a typo from me,I actually meant the name(s) with an S.
i just answered what you asked. if you are still confused, get an English tutor.

2 Likes

Djicemob: 8:12pm On Jul 03, 2015
Shortyy:

i just answered what you asked. if you are still confused, get an English tutor.
Sorry Ma undecided

42 Likes 1 Share

Shortyy(f): 8:15pm On Jul 03, 2015
Djicemob:
Sorry Ma undecided
good boy grin
Djicemob: 8:16pm On Jul 03, 2015
Shortyy:

good boy grin
Eh una too like quarrel grin

12 Likes

Shortyy(f): 8:21pm On Jul 03, 2015
Djicemob:
Eh but una too like quarrel too much grin
no be you no wan understand undecided

2 Likes

Djicemob: 8:26pm On Jul 03, 2015
Shortyy:

no be you no wan understand undecided
Ok "my names are" Engr Icemob, can you be my shortyy? grin tongue

19 Likes 2 Shares

Shortyy(f): 8:33pm On Jul 03, 2015
Djicemob:
Ok "my names are" Engr Icemob, can you be my shortyy? grin tongue
iranu grin

7 Likes 2 Shares

uchennamani(m): 9:00pm On Jul 03, 2015
Djicemob:
My Name Is....

My Names Are...


This has caused serious arguments between me and friends couple of times so i decided to bring it to house.English Language Gurus and Linguists,what are your take on the above phrases,which is better and grammatically correct when introducing oneself.Hopefully we can all learn a thing or two from your inputs.

Cc:Lalasticlala,Ishilove
They are both correct depending on the context in which it was used. My name is Uche but my names are Uche Nnamani. When asked his name during the Oputa hearing by the chairman; Whole Soyinka replied:'my name is Wole'. The chairman became angry and Prof. Soyinka told him that he should asked him his names. Grammatically, the subject must agree with the verb. The noun subjects 'name or names' must go with its verb equivalents 'is or are' respectively. it is wrong to say ' My name is Uche Nnamani or my name are Uche.'

33 Likes 2 Shares

MizMyColi(f): 9:15pm On Jul 03, 2015
Djicemob:
And MizMycoli too wink

well, here's my reasoning...

In a sane world, no body has just one name.
The family is the smallest unit of human interactions and an emotional centre of sorts.

We'd all be lost if we had no family to identify with, which explains the reasons a sane human would normally crave for a sense of belonging....

Now this family you belong to has a name, that is first and foremost, who you are.

Which is why you don't hear people like Khloe Kardashian saying, "I am a Khloe"...but you can hear her saying "I am a Kardashian"
There's something about pedigree that speaks volumes of the stuff you're made of.

In other words, your surname and your name are dependent on each other and actually function as ONE when it comes to introducing yourself in a formal/semi-formal setting.

So, I'd rather go with my name IS Margaret Thatcher.
As far as identifying me is concerned, none is complete without the other.
I am Margaret and I'm a Thatcher.
In other words, my name is Margaret Thatcher.

"My names are" should, or, can be used when you need to make known your different names/titles, which to a very large extent are independent of the other.

For Example;

His name is Jehovah Elshaddai.

And

His names are Jehovah Elshaddai, Jehovah Tsidkenu, Jehovah Shammah, Jehovah Nissi.....
Respectively.
You catch my drift?
wink

413 Likes 37 Shares

Djicemob: 9:26pm On Jul 03, 2015
MizMyColi:


well, here's my reasoning...

In a sane world, no body has just one name.
The family is the smallest unit of human interactions and an emotional centre of sorts.

We'd all be lost if we had no family to identify with, which explains the reasons a sane human would normally crave for a sense of belonging....

Now this family you belong to has a name, that is first and foremost, who you are.

Which is why you don't hear people like Khloe Kardashian saying, "I am a Khloe"...but you can hear her saying "I am a Kardashian"
There's something about pedigree that speaks volumes of the stuff you're made of.

In other words, your surname and your name are dependent on each other and actually function as ONE when it comes to introducing yourself in a formal/semi-formal setting.

So, I'd rather go with my name IS Margaret Thatcher.
As far as identifying me is concerned, none is complete without the other.
I am Margaret and I'm a Thatcher.
In other words, my name is Margaret Thatcher.

"My names are" should, or, can be used when you need to make known your different names/titles, which to a very large extent are independent of the other.

For Example;

His name is Jehovah Elshaddai.

And

His names are Jehovah Elshaddai, Jehovah Tsidkenu, Jehovah Shammah, Jehovah Nissi.....
Respectively.
You catch my drift?
wink

You killed it cheesy

101 Likes 6 Shares

Sanchez01: 9:28pm On Jul 03, 2015
elego1:
My name IS buhari.
my names ARE Muhammadu Buhari.

you use 'is' if u wanna say only ur first name or ur last name and u use 'are' if u wanna say ur full name.
If am wrong pls quote me.
uchennamani:
They are both correct depending on the context in which it was used. My name is Uche but my names are Uche Nnamani. When asked his name during the Oputa hearing by the chairman; Whole Soyinka replied:'my name is Wole'. The chairman became angry and Prof. Soyinka told him that he should asked him his names. Grammatically, the subject must agree with the verb. The noun subjects 'name or names' must go with its verb equivalents 'is or are' respectively. it is wrong to say ' My name is Uche Nnamani or my name are Uche.'
Unfortunately, both of you are wrong. There is no such thing as "my names are...". Here lemme explain;

1. The question is "What IS your NAME?": Note, the question did not come with the plural BrE+ form which in this regard would be "ARE". Hence, the question is directed to a singular form or entity (which is one person) and the answer would be singular as well. Therefore "My name is Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is most correct".

2. "Name" is a Noun but one's name is singular: This is quite complicated but simple at the same time. A name is an identity by which something is known or described as.

So, when we say "Names", we refer to several others but this is the tricky part; regardless of how many names you bear or carry, you are ONE person. Hence,, we refer to you as a singular entity and not belonging to the plurality class. Hermaphrodites who are even known to possess both male and female features are not pluralized.

Bearing the above in mind, it would imply that the several "NAMES" you have all belong to "ONE" person which is YOU. This is why it is proper to say "My name is Goodluck Ebele Jonathan".

NB: Goodluck+Ebele+Jonathan are all names but they belong to ONE person, therefore it cannot be pluralized during introduction.

Finally, instead of saying "My names are" just say "My full name is..."
E.g;

Customs inspector: Would you please state your name?

enger: I'm Goodluck Jonathan

Inspector: Excuse me, sir. Would you please state your full name? / Would you please state your name in full?

enger: Sorry! My full name is Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

173 Likes 13 Shares

Nastydroid(m): 9:30pm On Jul 03, 2015
MizMyColi:


well, here's my reasoning...

In a sane world, no body has just one name.
The family is the smallest unit of human interactions and an emotional centre of sorts.

We'd all be lost if we had no family to identify with, which explains the reasons a sane human would normally crave for a sense of belonging....

Now this family you belong to has a name, that is first and foremost, who you are.

Which is why you don't hear people like Khloe Kardashian saying, "I am a Khloe"...but you can hear her saying "I am a Kardashian"
There's something about pedigree that speaks volumes of the stuff you're made of.

In other words, your surname and your name are dependent on each other and actually function as ONE when it comes to introducing yourself in a formal/semi-formal setting.

So, I'd rather go with my name IS Margaret Thatcher.
As far as identifying me is concerned, none is complete without the other.
I am Margaret and I'm a Thatcher.
In other words, my name is Margaret Thatcher.

"My names are" should, or, can be used when you need to make known your different names/titles, which to a very large extent are independent of the other.

For Example;

His name is Jehovah Elshaddai.

And

His names are Jehovah Elshaddai, Jehovah Tsidkenu, Jehovah Shammah, Jehovah Nissi.....
Respectively.
You catch my drift?
wink

And someone provided an answer with just two lines shocked

15 Likes 4 Shares

iykedare(m): 9:36pm On Jul 03, 2015
Shortyy:
my name is Goodluck. my names are Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

Olodo

50 Likes 1 Share

Azedplus(m): 9:49pm On Jul 03, 2015
@ op , u make such moment am always happy being a nlder.....
@ Sanchez01 and MizMyColi , I think u both nailed it

12 Likes 4 Shares

Atlantian: 9:49pm On Jul 03, 2015
My NAME is

My NAMES are

2 Likes

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