Could you please tell me which is correct: 'All I want IS apples' or 'All I want ARE apples'?

Thank you.

It is best categorised as a collective noun. Therefore, you have a choice whether to treat it as plural or singular depending on context.

e.g.

The shoal is moving north.
The shoal are darting in different directions.

However, I suspect you can treat 'all I want' as a compound subject, which I judge to be singular.

Look at this example:

- Cows are something you don't see around London.

- Cows in a field is something you don't see around London.


What I'm saying is that grammar is not always mathematical. 'Cows in a field' is a single concept. I think the same is true for 'all I want'.

Thank you for your reply. Maggie.