cvs commit: www/en about.sgml

[M. Warner Losh]

In message: <200611071700.27822.jhb at freebsd.org>
            John Baldwin <jhb at freebsd.org> writes:
: 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&reg; 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.
: 
: 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)

My English Teacher wife says you are absolutely correct.

The verb agrees with the number.  "all you need" is neigher signular
nor plural, but takes on the "number" of the thing to which it refers
to.  It doesn't matter if it comes first:
	All you need are the dogs.
or second:
	The dogs are all you need.

Warner