Discussion Groups / English Usage / October 2008

Pls someone clarify the correct usage of Have and has for the
following sentence.
(1)  MUM AND DAD  HAVE BOUGHT MY BROTHER A PUPPY
            OR

BBC TV are running a sort of real-life, and partially real-time, animal
soap opera from the Maasai Mara called "Big Cats Live". (It's very
interesting; too many humans, of course, as is the besetting sin of
television producers.) The main man, Simon King, a couple of days ago

This may seem political but really is not.
As you know, I am an activist, an aggressive activist
for many topics ranging from environmental to animal
rights to securities to politics.

I find several references to "chewing tar."
Strange practice ... esp when is close to being hot ...
------
[His grandmother watches him carefully ...]

Re the NFL, other "specialized" verbs which describe the players "bucking?"
Thanks.
Marius Hancu

"Go out on their ear?"
I think I've heard something like this before, but can't find it.
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"On this job you handle a lot of dough and it comes at you fast.

Interesting to hear Sarah Palin's accent, which I assume is Alaskan:
'spendeen' for 'spending' for example. I don't remember hearing that
before. And I notice she uses 'also' a great deal. Is that an Alaskan
thing? Do Alaskan children shout 'Me also! Me also!' when you're handing ...

I`d like to work at the travel agency. And my groups of tourists
go by ferryboat in the bus.
So i should reserve a place for bus; the cabins for the tourists at
the ferryboat.

"Flatfoot," is it here an euphemism, say "damned?"
BTW, I know "flatfooted."
----
... another problem: that he's suddenly realized he's still facing

I don't quite get:
"Story playing to me through my teeth."
I know
"to lie through one's teeth,"

and what is the correct way to say that.
(for example I saw two websites. the first one is called mom cafe and
the second one cafe mom)
Thanks

"The mohair suite with pellet-filled ashtrays that can't be overturned,"
is this a furniture set covered in mohair?
----
But the Kleins seemed to need a great many things and bought them all on

When dealing with a collective noun, such as a board, in a formal context (a
written resolution), is it better to use singular or plural verb forms with
it?
Which would be better in such context:

I am surprised to find "who" after wisdom (and not "that"):
-------
[His grandmother pretended to go to the park just for resting, not for
finding old men to remarry.]

I could not be sure about what I think about the following sentence.
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The new owners are also keeping what they call the bar's "frontier
funkiness," but significantly updated.