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06-19-2010, 07:36 AM | #46 | |
Professor
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Quote:
AND "It doesn't matter to us/either of us" (whereas here it's being used as an object and this is what determines which pronoun you use). If I've missed the point completely (entirely possible), let me know immediately. |
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06-19-2010, 10:16 PM | #47 |
Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya?
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You've missed the point completely.
Those sentences were just simple ones I came up with to make the point. No one ever has to go to the movies if they don't want to.
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06-22-2010, 03:04 PM | #48 | |
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"These are the evidence." I stand corrected. Undertoad is right, singulare tantum. Evidence is "singular".
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06-22-2010, 03:08 PM | #49 | |
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So, to reiterate:
" Quote:
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06-22-2010, 05:31 PM | #50 |
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I think it is an unnecessarily awkward construction. I think your suggestion is an improvement. I think another improvement would be "The affidavits were...". That way you can marry the subject/verb agreement *and* keep the original singular evidence.
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06-22-2010, 08:26 PM | #51 |
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thanks.
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06-23-2010, 12:29 PM | #52 |
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06-23-2010, 12:40 PM | #53 |
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same with "water" and "smoke"
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06-23-2010, 12:41 PM | #54 |
Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya?
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Yeah, it would be "some good smoke" as in "damn, that was some good smoke your friend had."
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A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby |
06-23-2010, 12:51 PM | #55 |
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Although I suppose you could say you want a smoke.
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06-23-2010, 01:09 PM | #56 |
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[professional linguist]Yes. [/professional linguist]
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06-23-2010, 01:28 PM | #57 | |
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Quote:
"These are my advice." "This is the water." "These are the water." "This is smoke." "These are the smoke." In each case, these words ring singular to my ear. So, since there isn't a plural form of these words, that makes them singulare tantum. Additionally, they are examples of mass nouns. Ones that can't be quantified by a number, in contrast to collective nouns, as Cloud identified "evidence" earlier, in error I believe. I think evidence is another mass noun. Also, in the examples quoted above, the change in subj/verb agreement was happening with the count modifier. "This is the (one)" "These are the (several)". The very fact that you attach this counter is because they're uncountable. What you are counting is not advice, it's "lots" or "person".
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06-24-2010, 08:29 AM | #58 | |
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But I wonder if it shoud be "Hey, it is I..." |
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06-24-2010, 08:32 AM | #59 | |
Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya?
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Probably, but it is a causal relationship where casual created a casualty of the more formal language.
Quote:
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A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby |
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06-24-2010, 08:36 AM | #60 |
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I blame it all on Janis Joplin and Kris Kristopherson.
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