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Anonymous

#358712 Tue, 01 May 07 06:05 PM

Hello

Is it OK: "Is neurosis and obsession similar" or may be "Are neurosis and obsession similar" Should it be plural?

Also: I don't know what this word stands for (or) I don't know what does this word stand for

Which is correct???

thanks

Anonymous

Plurals

Grammar Geek

#358717 Tue, 01 May 07 06:20 PM

Hello Anon,

Are neurosis and obsession similar? (Yes, plural)

I don't know what this word means. OR I don't know what this abbreviation stands for. (A word doesn't stand for anything, but it takes the singular.)

Grammar Geek

Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006

Pennsylvania, USA

Veteran Member (15,565)

Barbara, who answers in American English.

Plurals, Abbreviations

Anonymous

#358721 Tue, 01 May 07 06:37 PM

How about this: I don't know: what does this word mean? Then, I guess, the construction with "does" would be OK?

By the way, why can't I write: I don't know what does this word mean! I GUESS IT'S NOT A QUESTION THAT'S WHY, AM I RIGHT???

Also: I've noticed they are mostly bald, at least those whom/which I saw. Can I use which in this case?

thanks

Anonymous

Constructions, Whom

Grammar Geek

#358756 Tue, 01 May 07 08:14 PM

Anonymous wrote:

Hi

How about this: I don't know: what does this word mean? Then, I guess, the construction with "does" would be OK? Yes, you would say "What does this word mean?"

By the way, why can't I write: I don't know what does this word mean! I GUESS IT'S NOT A QUESTION THAT'S WHY, AM I RIGHT??? You can say "I don't konw what this word means," as a statement (note that it's means) or ask "What does this word mean?" but not use "what does this" in the middle of a statement. So yes, you understand the problem.

Also: I've noticed they are mostly bald, at least those whom/which I saw. Can I use which in this case? Are you talking about people or eagles? It would be most natural to say "at least the ones that I saw."

thanks

Grammar Geek

Constructions, Whom

Anonymous

#358792 Tue, 01 May 07 09:47 PM

I'm talking about people. Is there ever a possibility to say "which" referring to people instead of "whom" or "who"???

thanks

Anonymous

Whom

Grammar Geek

#358806 Tue, 01 May 07 10:04 PM

Let's see what other people think. Which of the following are acceptable? Which are outright wrong?

Situation one:
Of all the nice young ladies we just met, which would be good candidates to join our Tea and Cupcake Society?
Of all the nice young ladies we just met, who would be good candidates to join our Tea and Cupcake Society?
Of all the nice young ladies we just met, whom did you consider good candidates to join our Tea and Cupcake Society?

Situation two:
They were all nice young lades, at least, all the ones that I talked to.
They were all nice young lades, at least, all the ones whom I talked to.
They were all nice young lades, at least, all the ones which I talked to.
They were all nice young lades, at least, all the ones who I talked to.

Grammar Geek

Dates, Whom

Kooyeen

#358824 Tue, 01 May 07 10:34 PM

Hmm GG, there's something I don't know and I've never asked... and you just reminded me of that!
Edited: Sorry, I'm dumb, I was not sure of "which" but I checked in the dictionary and I saw it's ok. Smile [:)]

Looking at those examples:

Situation one:
Of all the nice young ladies we just met, which would be good candidates to join our Tea and Cupcake Society? I wasn't sure I could say this, but it's ok. Yep.
Of all the nice young ladies we just met, who would be good candidates to join our Tea and Cupcake Society? Yep.
Of all the nice young ladies we just met, whom did you consider good candidates to join our Tea and Cupcake Society? I think so, but very formal.

Situation two (and all of these can be left out)
They were all nice young lades, at least, all the ones that I talked to. Yep
They were all nice young lades, at least, all the ones whom I talked to. I think so, but very formal
They were all nice young lades, at least, all the ones which I talked to. Nope
They were all nice young lades, at least, all the ones who I talked to. Yep

Kooyeen

Joined on Thu, Dec 22 2005

Italy

Senior Member (3,968)

If you don't have a sense of humor already, it's about time you buy one.

Dates, Whom

Goodman

#358851 Tue, 01 May 07 11:35 PM

Let's see what other people think. Which of the following are acceptable? Which are outright wrong?

Situation one:

Grammar Geek wrote:

Of all the nice young ladies we just met, which would be good candidates to join our Tea and Cupcake Society? -Don't think so!
Of all the nice young ladies we just met, who would be good candidates to join our Tea and Cupcake Society? - Acceptable
Of all the nice young ladies we just met, whom did you consider good candidates to join our Tea and Cupcake Society? Sounds ok

Situation two:
They were all nice young lades, at least, all the ones that I talked to. - Sound ok to me (who may be a better choice)
They were all nice young lades, at least, all the ones whom I (had) talked to. Acceptable
They were all nice young lades, at least, all the ones which I talked to. Not a chance
They were all nice young lades, at least, all the ones who I talked to. Sound ok

Hi GG,

I am going to give my best pick based on how your sample sentences sound and are constructed. I am a bit thrown off by the "whom" and "who" with the contexts.

Of all the nice young ladies we just met, which would be good candidates to join our Tea and Cupcake Society? -Don't think so!
Of all the nice young ladies we just met, who would be good candidates to join our Tea and Cupcake Society? - Acceptable
Of all the nice young ladies we just met, whom did you consider good candidates to join our Tea and Cupcake Society? Sounds ok

Situation two:
They were all nice young lades, at least, all the ones that I talked to. - Sound ok to me (who may be a better choice)
They were all nice young lades, at least, all the ones whom I (had) talked to. Acceptable
They were all nice young lades, at least, all the ones which I talked to. Not a chance
They were all nice young lades, at least, all the ones who I talked to. Sound ok

I am ready for my grades! Geeked [8-|]

Goodman

Joined on Mon, Nov 7 2005

Calif. USA

Senior Member (3,189)

The name says it all!

Grammar, Dates, Whom, Sample

Cool Breeze

#358983 Wed, 02 May 07 09:25 AM

Grammar Geek wrote:

Let's see what other people think. Which of the following are acceptable? Which are outright wrong?

Situation one:
Of all the nice young ladies we just met, which would be good candidates to join our Tea and Cupcake Society? Correct, as an interrogative pronoun, which is used to limit the choice.
Of all the nice young ladies we just met, who would be good candidates to join our Tea and Cupcake Society? Correct as well.
Of all the nice young ladies we just met, whom did you consider good candidates to join our Tea and Cupcake Society? Acceptable, but many would reject it because candidates is a plural and there is a grammatical school that thinks a singular noun should be used after who/whom in situations like this.

Situation two:
They were all nice young ladies, at least, all the ones that I talked to. OK
They were all nice young ladies, at least, all the ones whom I talked to. OK
They were all nice young ladies, at least, all the ones which I talked to. Definitely wrong. (Would have been OK 400 years ago.)
They were all nice young ladies, at least, all the ones who I talked to. OK