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Date:      Tue, 7 Nov 2006 22:20:22 +0000
From:      Ceri Davies <ceri@submonkey.net>
To:        John Baldwin <jhb@freebsd.org>
Cc:        cvs-doc@freebsd.org, Daniel Gerzo <gerzo@micronet.sk>, cvs-all@freebsd.org, Daniel Gerzo <danger@freebsd.org>, Max Laier <max@love2party.net>, doc-committers@freebsd.org
Subject:   Re: cvs commit: www/en about.sgml
Message-ID:  <20061107222022.GI83597@submonkey.net>
In-Reply-To: <200611071700.27822.jhb@freebsd.org>
References:  <200611071654.kA7GsWbj097708@repoman.freebsd.org> <200611072054.30906.max@love2party.net> <947574552.20061107211608@micronet.sk> <200611071700.27822.jhb@freebsd.org>

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On Tue, Nov 07, 2006 at 05:00:26PM -0500, John Baldwin wrote:
> On Tuesday 07 November 2006 15:16, Daniel Gerzo wrote:
> > Hello,
> >=20
> > Tuesday, November 7, 2006, 8:54:23 PM, you wrote:
> >=20
> > > [ Not a native speaker ]
> >=20
> > > 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, magnet=
ic=20
> tape,
> > >> > |                   an MS-DOS&reg; partition, or if you have a net=
work
> > >> > |                   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
> > >> > |                   =20
> > >> > | href=3D"&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.
> >=20
> > > I was confused by this, can you tell me if the following sounds right?
> >=20
> > 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?
>=20
> Hmm, I think 'are' is correct.  Compare these two sentences:
>=20
> These directions are all you need.
>=20
> These directions is all you need.

Those two sentences invert the subject and object.

> If you flip it that way, 'are' is obviously correct, and you are using a=
=20
> linking verb to basically express equality (these directions =3D=3D all [=
you=20
> need]).  In this case you are linking 'all' with the object.  Thus:
>=20
> All you need is a green car.  (all =3D=3D car is singular)
>=20
> All you need are two green cars and a stick of dynamite for some fun.
>   (all =3D=3D cars + dynamite is plural)

You're making the same mistake as Daniel.  The CMS is very clear on
this.

Ceri
--=20
That must be wonderful!  I don't understand it at all.
                                                  -- Moliere

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