English Grammar and Usage Problems => Use and Misuse => Topic started by: Miss Mae on April 15, 2012, 01:26:31 PM
Title: I thought it should be 'is'!
Post by: Miss Mae on April 15, 2012, 01:26:31 PM
Shouldn't it be 'the answer is simple: both'?
And the questions about Germany continue. Berlin or Munich? Castle or club? Ski or hike? East or west? BMW or Mercedes? In fact, the answers are simple: both.
Title: Re: I thought it should be 'is'!
Post by: Joe Carillo on April 21, 2012, 12:03:35 PM
No, since there are actually five questions, answering them with “The answer is simple: both” would not only be grammatically incorrect but also confusing. This statement provided in the passage is therefore correct: “In fact, the answers are simple: both.”
I can understand your confusion though, for even that correct answer is rather semantically slippery. It’s hard to pin down mentally to which “both” refers. For clarity, I would word that statement as follows:
“In fact, the answer to each question is simple: both.”
Another clear way to word that statement:
“In fact, the answers to all five questions are simple: both.”
The first alternative construction, which treats “answer” as a singular subject, makes it clear that the answer “both” applies to each of the five questions; the second alternative construction, which treats “answers” as a plural subject, makes it clear that the answer “both” applies to all five questions.
Title: Re: I thought it should be 'is'!
Post by: Miss Mae on April 25, 2012, 02:51:28 PM
How about In fact, the answer to these questions are simple: both?