This is too funny. The grammer debate that followed my post has made my day.
I have to say say something for my post. The bitch (that lives at 4106 Ivy
Chase Way NE) jerks (that's one female, many males taking turns with said
female) pissed on my car. I was slightly upset the whole day. When I asked
for help and didn't get a reply I wrote that little email. I'm sorry. My main
point which wasn't even addressed was the poor tomcat docs. I'm not working
on the project, I don't plan to work on the project, I never will work on the
project, but I use the project so I have the right to read good docs, dang it!
This mailing has been helpful.
Steven Rice
"Walker, Chris" wrote:
> Whether you think "list" is correctly plural or singular, in this case the
> subject of the verb is plural because it consists of two noun-phrases ("The
> tomcat docs", "this mailing list") joined with a conjunction ("and"):
>
> "The tomcat docs and this mailing list has been a huge disapointment.."
>
> Chris Walker
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: johnny paul penry [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> > Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2000 11:35 PM
> > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > Subject: Re: Disapointment (way, way off topic)
> >
> >
> > Rob Bryant wrote:
> > > The subject, in this case "list," is singular: one _list_.
> > So the correct
> > > conjugation of the verb "to have" is "the list has." His
> > (Steven's) usage
> > > was correct, your correction was incorrect.
>
YEAH!
> >
> > the internet. my favorite to witness grammar debates, unsolicited
> > chastisement, and off-topic hilarity.
> >
> > um, when referring to a singular _group_, grammarians have differed on
> > what is correct subject-verb agreement. the english language is
> > ambiguous on this point. either "the list has" or "the list have" is
> > acceptable when "list" refers to a group. both uses have their
> > authoritative literary proponents. subtle shadings of meaning may be
> > expressed by one or the other. that is, a group may act in
> > concert, or a
> > group may act as a set of somewhat autonomous individuals. thus, both
> > corrections are incorrect as hard and fast rules of english grammar.
> >
Rules of english grammer are always changing becuase english is living. Also
english has come from so many sources that there is no set of rules and there
will never be. Anyways, I must ask you this; which sounds better:
1) The tomcat docs and this mailing list has been a huge disapointment.
a) The tomcat docs has been a huge disapointment.
b) This mailing list has been a huge disapointment.
2) The tomcat docs and this mailing list have been a huge disapointment.
a) The tomcat docs have been a huge disapointment.
b) This mailing list have been a huge disapointment.
I like the usage of has in 1.
"I have printed the docs out, I have read them, I have tossed them in trash,
and I have ask for help on the mailing list. Now I sit at my desk upset
becuase some jackass has pissed on my car. The tomcat docs and this mailing
list has been a huge disapointment."
There, ENOUGH said.
Steven Rice
