they contains

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence 'they contains' is not correct.
It should be 'they contain.' For example, "These boxes contain all the supplies we will need for the project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

They contains one visible layer and one hidden layer.

Journal of Big Data

They contains significant amount of plant nutrients and organic matter improve soil properties (Jamil et al. 2008).

International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture

Raisins are grapes and they contains antioxidants".

Huffington Post

Most CBD oils are hemp-derived, which, by definition, means they contains less than 0.3percentTHCHC.

Vice

"The Twilight Zone" (original run) The entire five-season run of this horror-sci-fi classic isn't on Netflix, but Seasons 1 and 2 are available, and they contains many gems, including "Where Is Everybody," "The Hitch-Hiker," "The Invaders," "The Eye of the Beholder," "Time Enough At Last," "Long Distance Call," "Walking Distance," "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street" and "A Stop at Willoughby".

Huffington Post

More remarkably, our results demonstrate that some molecular mediators, involved in apoptosis induced by pro-oxidant conditions, are deamidated proteins, which can be methylated by PCMT, since they contains the unique feature recognized by this enzyme: the isoaspartyl residue.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

They contain their opposites.

The New Yorker

They contain no news.

The New York Times

They contain material objects.

The New York Times - Arts

Until then, they contained.

The Guardian - Sport

They contain love.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always ensure subject-verb agreement. With plural pronouns like "they", use the base form of the verb, such as "contain".

Common error

Avoid using "they contains". The correct form is "they contain". Remember that plural subjects require the plural form of the verb in the present tense.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they contains" functions as a subject-verb construction. However, it demonstrates incorrect subject-verb agreement, as the plural pronoun "they" requires the verb form "contain", not "contains". Ludwig AI highlights that the correct form is "they contain".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

43%

Encyclopedias

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they contains" is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "they contain". Despite its presence in various sources, using "they contains" is considered an error in standard English. As Ludwig AI confirms, maintaining subject-verb agreement is crucial. While the intended meaning is often clear, correcting this error enhances the credibility and clarity of writing. Alternative phrases such as "they include" or "they consist of" can be used to convey similar meanings while ensuring grammatical correctness. The contexts in which "they contains" appears most frequently are in science and news media, but it is essential to use the correct grammar, especially in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they consist of

Focuses on composition rather than direct possession, correcting the grammar.

they are comprised of

Shifts to a passive voice construction emphasizing composition.

it contains

Changes the pronoun from plural to singular, affecting the verb conjugation.

these include

Replaces the verb to focus on the inclusion aspect, avoiding the grammatical error.

these consist of

Focuses on composition rather than direct possession, correcting the grammar.

they hold

Implies a capacity to contain or possess something, altering the nuance.

these encompass

Highlights a broader inclusion or coverage, instead of a direct containing.

they have

Uses a verb indicating possession, requires further specification of what they have.

they embody

Suggests representing or exemplifying something, a semantic shift.

they incorporate

Suggests a merging or blending of elements, changing the meaning.

FAQs

What is the correct form, "they contains" or "they contain"?

The correct form is "they contain". The verb "contain" should be used with the plural pronoun "they" to ensure subject-verb agreement.

When should I use "it contains" instead of "they contain"?

Use "it contains" when referring to a singular subject. For example, "The box contains books", whereas "They contain books" refers to multiple entities. See also: it includes

Are there situations where "they contains" might be acceptable?

No, "they contains" is grammatically incorrect in standard English. Always use "they contain" for plural subjects.

What are some alternative phrases to "they contain" that I can use in my writing?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "they include", "they consist of", or "they are comprised of" to convey a similar meaning while maintaining grammatical accuracy.