As Linux grows, so does its problems

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Sergei - 14 Jun 2004 11:18 GMT

Just heard this on BBC World.

Is it that I misinterpreted this or it is accepted
practice to use 3d person singular form with plurals?

Sergei

Reply to this Message

John Hall - 14 Jun 2004 11:42 GMT

>Just heard this on BBC World.
>
>Is it that I misinterpreted this or it is accepted
>practice to use 3d person singular form with plurals?

"does" is a mistake, probably caused by the previous verb being singular
and/or by the subject of "does" following the verb.

Signature

John Hall Weep not for little Leonie
Abducted by a French Marquis!
Though loss of honour was a wrench
Just think how it's improved her French. Harry Graham (1874-1936)

Reply to this Message

Matti Lamprhey - 14 Jun 2004 12:01 GMT

"Sergei" <sergei@summertime.mtu-net.ru> wrote...

> Just heard this on BBC World.
>
> Is it that I misinterpreted this or it is accepted
> practice to use 3d person singular form with plurals?

I'm a native BrE speaker, and I'd say that it was an error. It should
certainly be "so do its problems."

Matti

Reply to this Message

Sergei - 17 Jun 2004 12:05 GMT

> "Sergei" <sergei@summertime.mtu-net.ru> wrote...
> > Just heard this on BBC World.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Matti

Thanks to both you and John for replying.

Sergei

Reply to this Message

Discussion Groups / British English / June 2004

As Linux grows, so does its problems