cvs commit: www/en about.sgml

[Ceri Davies]

On Tue, Nov 07, 2006 at 05:00:26PM -0500, John Baldwin wrote:
> On Tuesday 07 November 2006 15:16, Daniel Gerzo wrote:
> > Hello,
> > 
> > Tuesday, November 7, 2006, 8:54:23 PM, you wrote:
> > 
> > > [ Not a native speaker ]
> > 
> > > On Tuesday 07 November 2006 19:55, Ceri Davies wrote:
> > >> On Tue, Nov 07, 2006 at 04:54:31PM +0000, Daniel Gerzo wrote:
> > >> > danger      2006-11-07 16:54:31 UTC
> > >> >
> > >> >   FreeBSD doc repository
> > >> >
> > >> >   Modified files:
> > >> >     en                   about.sgml
> > >> >   Log:
> > >> >   - improve grammar
> > >> >
> > >> > | @@ -54,7 +54,7 @@
> > >> > |                   including CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, floppy disk, magnetic 
> tape,
> > >> > |                   an MS-DOS® partition, or if you have a network
> > >> > |                   connection, you can install it <i>directly</i> over
> > >> > | -                 anonymous FTP or NFS. All you need is
> > >> > | +                 anonymous FTP or NFS.  All you need are
> > >> > |                   <a
> > >> > |                    
> > >> > | href="&base;/doc/en_US.ISO8859-1/books/handbook/install.html">these
> > >> > | directions</a>.</p>
> > >>
> > >> This change isn't correct - "these directions" is the object of this
> > >> sentence and the verb "is" should agree with the subject "all you
> > >> need", which is singular.
> > 
> > > I was confused by this, can you tell me if the following sounds right?
> > 
> > I'm confused too, it sounds with "are" better to me, but I might be
> > wrong. English fluents around, please step up and tell us what's the
> > correct form of this sentence?
> 
> Hmm, I think 'are' is correct.  Compare these two sentences:
> 
> These directions are all you need.
> 
> These directions is all you need.

Those two sentences invert the subject and object.

> If you flip it that way, 'are' is obviously correct, and you are using a 
> linking verb to basically express equality (these directions == all [you 
> need]).  In this case you are linking 'all' with the object.  Thus:
> 
> All you need is a green car.  (all == car is singular)
> 
> All you need are two green cars and a stick of dynamite for some fun.
>   (all == cars + dynamite is plural)

You're making the same mistake as Daniel.  The CMS is very clear on
this.

Ceri
-- 
That must be wonderful!  I don't understand it at all.
                                                  -- Moliere
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