0
Palinkasocsi Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Plural?
Dear Forum Users,
Look at the following:
Sarcasm is made manifest as explicit indices of quotation (that is/are even mimed by hand gesture), intonational misfits, etc.
My question is:
Which is better to use: the singular or the plural?
Logic would opt for the plural but if we referred to mimicry itself as a (single) notion, then the singular would be better.
What do you natives think?
Many thanks.
Palinkasocsi
Look at the following:
Sarcasm is made manifest as explicit indices of quotation (that is/are even mimed by hand gesture), intonational misfits, etc.
My question is:
Which is better to use: the singular or the plural?
Logic would opt for the plural but if we referred to mimicry itself as a (single) notion, then the singular would be better.
What do you natives think?
Many thanks.
Palinkasocsi
Top answer
Hi, Look at the following: Sarcasm is made manifest as explicit indices of quotation (that is/are even mimed by hand gesture), intonational misfits, etc. My question is: Which is better to use: the singular or the plural? Plural, since 'that' seems to refer to 'indices'.
- Hi, Look at the following: Sarcasm is made manifest as explicit indices of quotation (that is/are even mimed by hand gesture), intonational misfits, etc.
- My question is: Which is better to use: the singular or the plural?
- Plural, since 'that' seems to refer to 'indices'.
- Logic would opt for the plural but if we referred to mimicry itself as a (single) notion, then the singular would be better.
- The word 'mimicry' is not mentioned here, and I see no suggestion that it is the subiect.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
9 Answers
0
Hi,
Look at the following:
Sarcasm is made manifest as explicit indices of quotation (that is/are even mimed by hand gesture), intonational misfits, etc.
My question is:
Which is better to use: the singular or the plural? Plural, since 'that' seems to refer to 'indices'.
Logic would opt for the plural but if we referred to mimicry itself as a
Look at the following:
Sarcasm is made manifest as explicit indices of quotation (that is/are even mimed by hand gesture), intonational misfits, etc.
My question is:
Which is better to use: the singular or the plural? Plural, since 'that' seems to refer to 'indices'.
Logic would opt for the plural but if we referred to mimicry itself as a
00
PalinkasocsiWhich is better to use: the singular or the plural?I don't think it's wise to invent a new constituent for the sentence on the basis of your imaginings, so I don't believe the noun mimicry has anything to do with it.
There are only two possible antecedents of that: indices (plural) and quotation (singular). So
00
Personally, I think that's a sentence that more than just a few people might find worthy of being sarcastic about. 
00
The original sentence is:
These separators are made manifest as explicit indices of quotation (that are even mimed by hand gesture), intonational misfits and hyperformality (for the details, see Haiman 1990, 1998).
Don't worry, it absolutely makes sense for cognitive linguists. Next time I will try to reveal my concerns by paraphrasing my sentences with more care s
These separators are made manifest as explicit indices of quotation (that are even mimed by hand gesture), intonational misfits and hyperformality (for the details, see Haiman 1990, 1998).
Don't worry, it absolutely makes sense for cognitive linguists. Next time I will try to reveal my concerns by paraphrasing my sentences with more care s
00
What do you think:
In writing sarcasm is made manifest in the form of quotation marks that is/are even mimed by hand gesture in speaking.
is or are?
P.
In writing sarcasm is made manifest in the form of quotation marks that is/are even mimed by hand gesture in speaking.
is or are?
P.
00
0
Palinkasocsithat are even mimed by hand gestureIt just dawned on me that this refers to the gesture that people make to show quotation marks ( " " ) by raising their arms and moving two fingers of each hand, much as if they were holding rabbit puppets and making the rabbits' ears wiggle!
Right?
CJ
00
A habit I am trying desperately to break my daughter of! Recently I read a transcripted interview in which the subject repeated said things like "native, well quote-unquote native dancers." So now the little finger-quote gesture is making its way into spoken speech.
Palinosocsi, with the "qutoation marks" you need the plural.
Palinosocsi, with the "qutoation marks" you need the plural.
00
That's right, CalifJim.
Thanks G.G. I especially like the quote-unquote thing.
Clive:
Palinkasocsi
Thanks G.G. I especially like the quote-unquote thing.
Clive:
Palinkasocsi
0
Related Questions