cleft sentences

IP: *.neoplus.adsl.tpnet.pl 31.03.04, 12:32
Now it's time for cleft sentences :)
Two examples from a coursebook:

1) What you didn't warn us about WAS the terrible roads. - can you say WERE
as well?
2) What no one looks forward to ARE the long, cold winters. - can you say IS
as well?

The sentences are very similar, though they have different verb forms. Does
it mean that you can use both?

Thank you from the mountain (z góry :)))
    • Gość: ladybird Re: cleft sentences IP: *.icm.edu.pl / *.icm.edu.pl 31.03.04, 16:51
      ..a mozesz wiecej powiedziec o tych zdaniach..moze ktos moze polecic jakas
      stronke..o tym..
    • tynski Re: cleft sentences 31.03.04, 21:20
      Gość portalu: iwona napisał(a):

      > Now it's time for cleft sentences :)
      > Two examples from a coursebook:
      >
      > 1) What you didn't warn us about WAS the terrible roads. - can you say WERE
      > as well?
      WAS is better

      > 2) What no one looks forward to ARE the long, cold winters. - can you say IS
      > as well?
      I like IS better.

      > The sentences are very similar, though they have different verb forms. Does
      > it mean that you can use both?

      The copula "to be" is the verb, and what stands before a copula is its subject.
      "What" can be singular or plural. To me, it is singular in both cases.
      Just keep in mind that the plural complements tend to corrupt the verb.
      You can argue otherwise, especially "the long, cold winters" case, but that's
      my take.


      >
      > Thank you from the mountain (z góry :)))
      What the heck is that?
      • Gość: iwona Re: cleft sentences IP: *.neoplus.adsl.tpnet.pl 01.04.04, 15:27
        1 ladybird, nie, stronek zadnych jeszcze nie szukalam. na pewno cos sie
        znajdzie w sieci

        2 tynski, well, i'm confused now :(
        thank you from the mountain - it was just a prank :)
        • tynski Re: cleft sentences 02.04.04, 11:45
          Gość portalu: iwona napisał(a):


          > 2 tynski, well, i'm confused now :(

          Apropos of what?
          • Gość: !!! Re: cleft sentences IP: 195.152.54.* 02.04.04, 12:00
            Definitely not a prank, joke maybe
          • Gość: iwona Re: cleft sentences IP: *.neoplus.adsl.tpnet.pl 02.04.04, 21:54
            so you say singular is better. does it mean that plural is ok as well? or is it
            totally out of the question?
            • zegar4 Re: cleft sentences 04.04.04, 02:45
              Gość portalu: iwona napisał(a):

              > so you say singular is better. does it mean that plural is ok as well? or is
              it
              >
              > totally out of the question?

              The "what" can mean either "the thing that" (which is singular) or "the things
              that" (which is plural).
              When you substitute them for "what", you get

              (A)The thing that you didn't warn us about was the terrible roads.
              (B)The things that you didn't warn us about were the terrible roads.

              (C)The thing no one looks forward to is the long, cold winters.
              (D)The things no one looks forward to are the long, cold winters.

              Which do you prefer: (A) or (B)? (C) or (D)?
              • henry.lawson Dla Iwonki... 05.04.04, 06:14
                "What you didn't warn us about WAS the terrible roads."
                Bardzo poprawnie.

                Can you say WERE as well?
                Tak mozesz.


                "What no one looks forward to ARE the long, cold winters."
                Calkiem poprawnie.

                Can you say IS instead of ARE?
                Tak, ale brzmi to troche... hmmm, dziwnie.


              • Gość: iwona Re: cleft sentences IP: *.neoplus.adsl.tpnet.pl 05.04.04, 09:24
                all of them are correct :-)
                thx
                • zegar4 Re: cleft sentences 06.04.04, 05:17
                  Gość portalu: iwona napisał(a):

                  > all of them are correct :-)
                  > thx

                  I guess I egged you on.
                  The only good thing that (A) through (D) have in common is they are
                  grammatically correct: they don't flout the subject-verb agreement.

                  Don't you thing that the "terrible roads" and the "long, cold winters," as
                  introduced by the singular-what clauses in the original examples, acquire
                  singular meanings? For me, grammar aside, the plurals (were, are) spoil
                  everything.

                  If that doesn't convince you, back to grammar.
                  Only the singular verbs in your two sentences are GRAMMATICALLY correct.
                  "What" is singular by default; you have to make arrangements to make it plural,
                  otherwise it stays singular. You either provide a plural referent for "what" or
                  you place a plural verb immediately behind it to make it plural. You can't make
                  it plural retroactively. "Who" works the same way.
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