Help with correct grammar

Question

Can someone please tell me which is correct in the following:?

1. Really all he owned were/was his car, clothing, and enough furniture. . . (were or was?)

2. Tru, you old son of a gun! (Is son of a gun capitalized?

3. He spoke to her as if he was/were indulging a child. (was or were?)

4. He was sixteen years older than her/she and was content. . . (her or she?)

5. Zola returned and life went on as usual among/amongst the three of them. (among or amongst?)

6. Every time a postcard arrived, it added to her discontent/discontentment?

7. As soon as they said their I do's or I dos?

8. You must be as hungry as I/me?

9. She was studying at The Sorbonne. (is is proper to use The Sorbonne, or just studying at Sorbonne?)

Thank you very much!

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Hi Mom-- welcome to English Forums!

We would really like to see your guesses and the reasons for them first, and then we will check your efforts.

Mom4ez · Answer

I had some guesses Mr. Micawber, but I didn't realize I was supposed to show why I thought so. Thank you for pointing that out to me.

1. Really all he owned was/were his car, clothing, and enough furniture. I think the answer is were because car, clothing, etc. is more than one.

2. Tru, you old son of a gun-~~I like son of a gun should be capped but I'm not sure why~~

3. He spoke to her as if he was/were indulging a child. I think this is "were" indulging a child. Again, not sure why.

4. He was sixteen years older than her/she--I think this is "her" .

5. Zola returned and life went on as usual among/amongst them. I think this is among.

6. Every time a postcard arrive, it added to her discontent/discontentment. I think this is discontent.

7. As soon as they said their I do's/dos. This one is confusing to me--because the apostrophe doesn't show possession, but simply dos looks strange. I think it is do's.

8. You must be as hungry as I/me. I think this is" I "because you would say "as hungry as I am, not as hungry as me am."

9. She was studying at The Sorbonne. I thought this was proper to use "The Sorbonne" but on grammar check on Micro soft word it says you shouldn't put "the" in front.

Thank you very much again! Practice makes perfect.

Paco2004 · Answer

Hello Mom

I'm an English learner from Japan. I found your questions are a bit too tough to me, but if you don't mind let me try to state my ideas.

1. Really all he owned was his car, clothing, and enough furniture.
I think 'all (that) ..." is usually treated as a singular.
2. Tru, you old son of a gun.
No need to capitalize 'old son of a gun'. 'Son-of-a-gun' is a common noun meaning 'man' or 'fellow'
3. He spoke to her as if he were indulging a child.
You are right. 'As if' is typically followed by a subjunctive mood. So it must be 'were'.
4. He was sixteen years older than her/she.
There are a lot of disputes over this question. But 'her' sounds more natural.
5. Zola returned and life went on as usual among/amongst them.
'Amongst' is also possible but it is rather archaic.
6. Every time a postcard arrive, it added to her discontent.
'Discontentment' is almost synonymous to 'discontent' but its use is now rare.
7. As soon as they said their I do's.
This is a special use of an apostrophe. When letters, words, or phrases are pluralized, they take <X's> as the plural form. For example, I wrote three I love you's in the letter.
8. You must be as hungry as I.
I agree with you.
9. She was studying at the Sorbonne.
The Sorbonne is a college founded by Robert de Sorbonne in 13th century and it has been called the Sorbonne (la Sorbonne) since then.

I'm sure Mr Micawber will come and check your tries as well as mine.
paco

Mister Micawber · Answer

I'd say much the same.

#1 seems to me to be more the matter of focusing on items in a list (much like there is/are an apple, a banana, and a kumquat on the table) rather than a necessary singularity of the impersonal pronomial. Cf:

All that participate willingly are happy at our little institution.
All is not gold that glitters.

I also draw your attention-- just for fun!-- to what to me seems an anomaly in your preferences (though I do not disagree with your argument):

4. He was sixteen years older than her.
8. You must be as hungry as I.

Paco2004 · Answer

Mister MicawberI also draw your attention-- just for fun!-- to what to me seems an anomaly in your preferences (though I do not disagree with your argument):
4. He was sixteen years older than her.
8. You must be as hungry as I.

Yes, I admit I'm an arbitrary person about grammar rules.

I obey the collocations used among the majority of native speakers.

paco

Mister Micawber · Answer

Is your avatar subtly mutating from breed to breed, Paco, or is it just my imagination?

Paco2004 · Answer

Mister MicawberIs your avatar subtly mutating from breed to breed, Paco, or is it just my imagination?

Really?

paco

Mister Micawber · Answer

Merry Christmas, Paco Claus!

Anonymous · Answer

Mom4ez (were

Mom4ez(was

Mom4ezher

Mom4ez(among

Mom4ezdiscontentment?

Mom4ezI dos

Mom4ezme

Mom4ezjust studying at Sorbonne

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