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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2015 12:53:00 GMT
I've studied English as a second language for over a decade now and I think I've reached a decent level. But sometimes I still have questions and I figured "hey, why don't you ask all the native speakers on UTHT?". So this thread is for everyone who struggles with the English language and is looking for some help. So my first question: what is the correct preposition in the following phrase? 1. On the show 2. In the show I've seen you guys use both interchangeably, but I've noticed that GRRM always says "IN the books" but "ON the show". What is correct?
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Post by kingeomer on Dec 27, 2015 13:12:41 GMT
Great question!
I applaud anyone learning English as a second language because it is a hard language with many stupid rules that don't make much sense.
I use both interchangeably but I asked my grammar nerd husband and here is his answer: GRRM is correct, because saying "in the books" refers to the plot, something you can find in a book. One could pick a book as a reference. "on the show" is because you are watching it on TV/computer/etc.
I am not sure which is truly correct but that is his answer.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2015 13:22:44 GMT
Thanks, kingeomer. So to make this clear, "IN the show" is definitely wrong? I've seen some native speakers say that here so that confused me a bit.
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Post by kingeomer on Dec 27, 2015 13:41:21 GMT
Thanks, kingeomer . So to make this clear, "IN the show" is definitely wrong? I've seen some native speakers say that here so that confused me a bit. I don't know that it is definitely wrong. Husband seems to think that it is, but I don't think even the pickiest of English teachers would mark that wrong in a paper (other than Husband, lucky for the world, he is not an English teacher). It might not the preferred way to say it but it's one of those things that slide by. I say 'in the show/on the show" interchangeably. I go by the rule, if it makes sense in a sentence, then it's okay for me and in/on the show makes sense to me. My kids are learning proper grammar and some of the rules,I have to look up because I am thinking, I don't remember that AT ALL. I don't know if that helps you or not. I just think if you said it either way around a native English speaker, I can't see anyone correcting you.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2015 14:00:56 GMT
Ok, thanks again, kingeomer. I know I have more questions, but I can't remember them right now.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2015 15:36:04 GMT
I don't think there is a correct answer to this question. Most people would, I think, say 'on the show' because of how we talk about TV in general. 'What's on TV?' etc. But that is just idiom, really. 'In the show' would be no less correct IMO
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2016 19:41:56 GMT
I've got another question, guys. Sometimes I'm unsure if I should use a singular or a plural form of the verb 'to be'. For example: a.) The only thing that comes to mind IS the movies he likes. b.) The only thing that comes to mind ARE the movies he likes. What is correct? "Thing" is singular, but "movies" plural. So do I need a singular or plural form? Or is this correct: c.) The only things (plural) that comes to mind are the movies he likes. And does it make a difference if I start with the second part of the sentence? E.g. "The movies he likes are the only thing that comes to mind". Help!
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Post by lordcarson on Jan 7, 2016 20:15:58 GMT
I've got another question, guys. Sometimes I'm unsure if I should use a singular or a plural form of the verb 'to be'. For example: a.) The only thing that comes to mind IS the movies he likes. b.) The only thing that comes to mind ARE the movies he likes. What is correct? "Thing" is singular, but "movies" plural. So do I need a singular or plural form? Or is this correct: c.) The only things (plural) that comes to mind are the movies he likes. And does it make a difference if I start with the second part of the sentence? E.g. "The movies he likes are the only thing that comes to mind". Help! In both cases, "is" is correct. You're referring to the only thing that comes to mind, which is singular, so you would use the singular form. It doesn't make a difference in the second one since you're still just referring to the only thing, the parts of the sentences being reversed doesn't change which part is the reference point. I still make this mistake sometimes, its easy to forget the rules when you see a plural since your mind automatically assumes that you're taking about that since its a noun.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2016 20:21:16 GMT
I've got another question, guys. Sometimes I'm unsure if I should use a singular or a plural form of the verb 'to be'. For example: a.) The only thing that comes to mind IS the movies he likes. b.) The only thing that comes to mind ARE the movies he likes. What is correct? "Thing" is singular, but "movies" plural. So do I need a singular or plural form? Or is this correct: c.) The only things (plural) that comes to mind are the movies he likes. And does it make a difference if I start with the second part of the sentence? E.g. "The movies he likes are the only thing that comes to mind". Help! In both cases, "is" is correct. You're referring to the only thing that comes to mind, which is singular, so you would use the singular form. It doesn't make a difference in the second one since you're still just referring to the only thing, the parts of the sentences being reversed doesn't change which part is the reference point. I still make this mistake sometimes, its easy to forget the rules when you see a plural since your mind automatically assumes that you're taking about that since its a noun. Thanks, man!
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Post by breakfest on Jan 8, 2016 20:54:23 GMT
Going to throw a spanner in the works here but I disagree with lordcarson on this. a.) is certainly correct since 'the only thing that comes to mind' is a singular subject and the verb must also be singular, making the correct form of the verb 'is'. c.) is also correct since 'the only things that come to mind' is now a plural subject. Again subject and verb must agree, so 'are' is the correct form of the verb, since it is plural.
Whereas if you switch the sentence around you are now turning 'the movies he likes' into the subject. This is a plural subject, meaning the verb must also be plural, which would make 'are' the correct form. The key thing to remember is that the subject and the verb have to agree.
I'm no expert but this is my perspective, I think @witchy might be the best person to prove/disprove this?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2016 22:56:47 GMT
D. The only things (plural) that come (notice the "s" is gone) to mind are the movies he likes. breakfest is right about the subject/verb agreement. Lord Carson's thinking isn't completely off. He's thinking of movies as a unit, because the sentence implies they have a collective quality, but if that's what you want to do, you need to find another way to cast the sentence. E. The only thing that comes to mind is the genre of movies he likes.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2016 23:01:39 GMT
D. The only things (plural) that come (notice the "s" is gone) to mind are the movies he likes. breakfest is right about the subject/verb agreement. Lord Carson's thinking isn't completely off. He's thinking of movies as a unit, because the sentence implies they have a collective quality, but if that's what you want to do, you need to find another way to cast the sentence. E. The only thing that comes to mind is the genre of movies he likes. So sentences a.) and c.) are both correct for reasons that were mentioned by breakfest? Or is your sentence d.) the only correct one?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2016 23:05:39 GMT
I just noticed the mistake in my sentence c.). The one you corrected, @witchy. "Come" instead of "comes". So nevermind. But sentence a.) is correct, isn't it?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2016 23:06:50 GMT
c.) is wrong because comes with an "s" is the singular form.
It's more right than b.), because it has "are" instead of "is."
The correct options are a.), d.), and e.) Although e.) might mean something slightly different than the other two. Depends on context.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2016 23:12:16 GMT
Thanks so much, @witchy.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2016 23:13:54 GMT
Thanks so much, @witchy .
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