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Ionesco Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
"all i had"
I was a little frustrated today when I came across someone insisting that
"All I had today WAS two pieces of pizza"
is an incorrect sentence.
It's true that this can be written "All I had today WERE two pieces of pizza."
However, I'm fairly sure this is the same as certain "what" clauses, i.e:
"What I lack ARE words"
"What I lack IS words"
Both of those latter sentences are standard English (American Heritage Usage confirms this)
Can anyone confirm my reasoning that formulations such as "All I had today..." operate similarly?
That is to say, can anyone confirm that both "All I had today was two pieces of pizza" and "All I had today were two pieces of pizza" are standard?
"All I had today WAS two pieces of pizza"
is an incorrect sentence.
It's true that this can be written "All I had today WERE two pieces of pizza."
However, I'm fairly sure this is the same as certain "what" clauses, i.e:
"What I lack ARE words"
"What I lack IS words"
Both of those latter sentences are standard English (American Heritage Usage confirms this)
Can anyone confirm my reasoning that formulations such as "All I had today..." operate similarly?
That is to say, can anyone confirm that both "All I had today was two pieces of pizza" and "All I had today were two pieces of pizza" are standard?
Top answer
To me "All I had today WAS two pieces of pizza" is correct. Two pieces of pizza were all I had today if your friend insists on were .
- To me "All I had today WAS two pieces of pizza" is correct.
- Two pieces of pizza were all I had today if your friend insists on were .
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2 Answers
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To me "All I had today WAS two pieces of pizza" is correct.
Two pieces of pizza were all I had today if your friend insists on were.
Two pieces of pizza were all I had today if your friend insists on were.
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"Can anyone confirm my reasoning that formulations such as "All I had today..." operate similarly?"
The sentences have similar structures
Relative noun clause ( with what, ellipted that, as relative pronouns) as subject+ linking verb+subject complement
the verbs, was/were, is/are, agree with the respective relative pronouns.
What is
The sentences have similar structures
Relative noun clause ( with what, ellipted that, as relative pronouns) as subject+ linking verb+subject complement
the verbs, was/were, is/are, agree with the respective relative pronouns.
What is
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