Critical

tinanam0102Imam Feisal has said one or two things about American foreign policy that strike me as overly critical.

In this context, "critical" means "negative," or "derogatory."

One thing strikes me.
Two things strke me.
One or two things strike me.

Hi Avangi,

Thank you for answering my question.

1. Does critical in this sentence refer to the things Imam Feisal said about American foreign policy?

2. Would it be wrong to use "strikes" in the sentence?

Thank you.

Tinanam

tinanam01021. Does critical in this sentence refer to the things Imam Feisal said about American foreign policy?

Yes. The sentence claims that he is criticizing the policy

tinanam01022. Would it be wrong to use "strikes" in the sentence?

Yes. "Things" is clearly plural.
things that strike me

Hi Avangi,

I read a few more times, then I understood. I was focusing the singular strike on "American foreign policy"

Thank you for your help.

Tinanam

That's a very common error, Tinanam. We instinctively want to use the closest noun as subject of the verb.

There are two things about Jane that bothers bother me.

Hi Avangi,

I am very happy because I am starting to get familiar to the sentence structures I have been studying.

Thanks again.

Tinanam