NewsBiscuit : Rare sightings of strange yellow orbs is the Sun, assure astronomers

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Rare sightings of strange yellow orbs is the Sun, assure astronomers

(51 posts) (14 voices)

Started 7 years ago by Dick Everyman
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Dick Everyman

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.

Posted 7 years ago #
Lindy Moone

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Oops, grammar fail!

(sightings... is... sun)

Quick, try again! (And not just by taking the "s" off "sightings" -- because it's not the sighting that's the sun, it's the orb that's the sun.)

(I know, I know, but I can't help myself. It's a sickness.)

Posted 7 years ago #
Dick Everyman

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Thanks Ms Moone - can I have 5 yellow stars now please?

Posted 7 years ago #
Arthur

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Grammar fail my arse! The transitive verb relates to the Sun and is therefore singular regardless of how many sightings there may have been.

Change it back again and I'll give you two stars for effort.

Posted 7 years ago #
Dick Everyman

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Bloody hell - okay Arthur. I'll settle for 2 ;o)

Posted 7 years ago #
Arthur

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Promise fulfilled.

Posted 7 years ago #
Dick Everyman

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Thanks Arthur.

Note to other Biscuiteers - I'll add or remove any other 's' in exchange for further stars. ;0

Posted 7 years ago #
Arthur

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Add an 's' to 'orb' for another star.

Posted 7 years ago #
Dick Everyman

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I love it when you talk dirty...

Posted 7 years ago #
Arthur

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For five stars, you need to use an uppercase 's' for 'Sun' and add a comma after it.

Posted 7 years ago #
FlashArry

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That's very accommodating of you, Dick
Have some unconditional stars on account

Posted 7 years ago #
Dick Everyman

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Thanks Arry - custard cream could do with a few stars too if you've got any spare...

Posted 7 years ago #
Arthur

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Don't be rash, Flash, we need something in reserve for when we get to greengrocers apostrophe's.

Posted 7 years ago #
Arthur

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Very good, Dick. Now, if you can somehow fit in a denial from News International then I think you've got a ticker.

Posted 7 years ago #
FlashArry

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No apostrophes but a glut of colons : can't seem to shift them

Posted 7 years ago #
Arthur

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Dick, I'm sorry to say this but some mean bastard has given you less than five stars.

Posted 7 years ago #
Dick Everyman

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Ha ha! I consider myself Murdoched!

Posted 7 years ago #
FlashArry

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I'd held one back in anticipation of the final edit

Posted 7 years ago #
Arthur

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OK, Flash; I like a strategic thinker.

Posted 7 years ago #
Arthur

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Dick: does that mean you'll be writing for the Evening Harold from now on?

Posted 7 years ago #
Golgo13

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Arthur : The verb "to be" is not transitive (or intransitive). Transitive suggests "Subject-Verb-Object" operation. "Be" takes a Predicate, not an Object. It's a statement of equivalence, not Agent acting on other agent.

Correctly, the "be" verb should agree in number with the subject, not the predicate.

In the above case, a plural subject requires a plural form of verb.

So if the subject is "Sightings" (plural), then verb should be "are" (plural) and predicate is whatever you want.

But if you think it sounds "better" with "is" then go ahead, but don't go chucking the word "transitive" into the discussion, as this is not relevant to "be" verb.

Even if it was transitive, the verb would agree in number with the subject not the object.

Posted 7 years ago #
Arthur

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Golgo, he got five stars.

Posted 7 years ago #
The All New Jeni B

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Eh?

Posted 7 years ago #
Golgo13

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Arthur:

1) You started with the "oh, it's a transitive.." trying to sound all grammared up, so I'm putting you straight.
2) It's an old joke.
3) "You twats are a joke" vs "You twats is a joke"

Posted 7 years ago #
Arthur

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Golgo, for your opinion to be credible, you'd never had said that. It's perfectly clear to everyone that Dick started it and Lindy confused the issue. I stepped in to help clarify things more than five hours later.

Posted 7 years ago #
Golgo13

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Fair enough...maybe I missed the original.

But if Lindy was saying "Rare sightings... are the sun" is better than "Rare sightings is the sun" then she was spot on.

And surely "orb" not "orbs"...many sightings of the one orb...

Posted 7 years ago #
Arthur

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Golgo, you have tampered with the evidence and I hereby accuse you of being an unreliable witness.

For the sake of Dick's five-star glory, I recommend that you rest your case while you're losing and submit to judgement.

Posted 7 years ago #
Golgo13

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pwned you!

Posted 7 years ago #
Arthur

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I think it's time for the NewsBiscuit editors to call on the Press Complaints Commission.

Posted 7 years ago #
Lindy Moone

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Good. You added the comma. Didn't ask for that cuz I didn't wanna be too demanding...

(BTW, still don't think it's right, but I'll just say "uncle" and sprinkle the well-deserved stars.)

I sure loves me a man-tussle!

Posted 7 years ago #

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