Comments on: Quiz: Writing for business 0725 http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/quiz-writing-for-business-0725/ A Whatis.com Blog Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:01:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Tortuga1 http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/quiz-writing-for-business-0725/#comment-59 Tortuga1 Sat, 10 Oct 2009 00:17:53 +0000 http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/quiz-writing-for-business-0725/#comment-59 Margaret Rouse, You are still incorrect. You are correct the the subject of the sentence is singular. It is "you". The correct conjugation for "to be" in the second person singular is "are", as in "Are you available to meet with Cisco...". "Is" is the correct in the statement, "Is she available to meet.." , because "is" the correct conjugation of "to be" for 3rd person singular. Thus the correct responses would be: "Are either of you available to meet.." and "Is he or she available to meet...". Margaret Rouse,

You are still incorrect. You are correct the the subject of the sentence is singular. It is “you”. The correct conjugation for “to be” in the second person singular is “are”, as in “Are you available to meet with Cisco…”. “Is” is the correct in the statement, “Is she available to meet..” , because “is” the correct conjugation of “to be” for 3rd person singular. Thus the correct responses would be: “Are either of you available to meet..” and “Is he or she available to meet…”.

]]> By: MargaretRouse http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/quiz-writing-for-business-0725/#comment-6 MargaretRouse Mon, 28 Jul 2008 11:51:49 +0000 http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/quiz-writing-for-business-0725/#comment-6 I can't take "either" out of the sentence. It's the subject. The pronouns neither and either are singular when used as the subject of the sentence and require singular verbs. Substitute "either" for some other singular pronoun -- she, for instance. Is she available to meet with the Cisco rep tomorrow? (You wouldn't say "Are she available to meet...") I can’t take “either” out of the sentence. It’s the subject.

The pronouns neither and either are singular when used as the subject of the sentence and require singular verbs. Substitute “either” for some other singular pronoun — she, for instance.

Is she available to meet with the Cisco rep tomorrow?
(You wouldn’t say “Are she available to meet…”)

]]> By: Lisa7826 http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/quiz-writing-for-business-0725/#comment-5 Lisa7826 Sun, 27 Jul 2008 19:03:01 +0000 http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/quiz-writing-for-business-0725/#comment-5 Nope Icepir8 is right. Take the EITHER out of the sentence. Since either is still single you need to say Are. You wouldn't say "Is you available to meet with the Cisco rep tomorrow?" You say "are you". Therefore, when addressing 2 or more people "singlularly" with the same sentence, single words apply. Nope Icepir8 is right. Take the EITHER out of the sentence. Since either is still single you need to say Are. You wouldn’t say “Is you available to meet with the Cisco rep tomorrow?” You say “are you”. Therefore, when addressing 2 or more people “singlularly” with the same sentence, single words apply.

]]> By: MargaretRouse http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/quiz-writing-for-business-0725/#comment-4 MargaretRouse Sat, 26 Jul 2008 12:52:42 +0000 http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/quiz-writing-for-business-0725/#comment-4 Icepir8, I think we're agreeing that in this sentence, the correct answer is b. I do appreciate your pointing out that if we had said "either / or", the noun closes to the verb would determine agreement. Thanks for giving us a great future question! Icepir8,
I think we’re agreeing that in this sentence, the correct answer is b.
I do appreciate your pointing out that if we had said “either / or”, the noun closes to the verb would determine agreement. Thanks for giving us a great future question!

]]> By: Icepir8 http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/quiz-writing-for-business-0725/#comment-3 Icepir8 Sat, 26 Jul 2008 03:11:29 +0000 http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/writing-for-business/quiz-writing-for-business-0725/#comment-3 This is wrong. As a subject, “either” is singular. it’s the opposite of “both,” and refers to one at a time: “Either ketchup or mustard is good on a hot dog.” But if “either” is modifying a subject in an “either . . . or” phrase, then the number of the verb is determined by the number of the second noun: “Either the puppy or the twins seem to need my attention every other minute.” as stated on Washington State University web page. http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/eitherare.html This is wrong.

As a subject, “either” is singular. it’s the opposite of “both,” and refers to one at a time: “Either ketchup or mustard is good on a hot dog.” But if “either” is modifying a subject in an “either . . . or” phrase, then the number of the verb is determined by the number of the second noun: “Either the puppy or the twins seem to need my attention every other minute.”

as stated on Washington State University web page.
 <a href="http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/eitherare.html" title="http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/eitherare.html" target="_blank">http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/either…</a>

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