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Originally Posted By: zmjezhd
I'd like a definition of "conversation".

How about A-H (link): "The spoken exchange of thoughts, opinions, and feelings; talk"? Of course, Bran was using it metaphorically, because our conversation is happening offline via forum software and not in real time as face-to-face conversations do. Hope that's helps.



Thank you, that helps.
And what is called when one person imposes confines on the
conversation? Colloquially - not in organized debate.


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It's kind of a clunky sentence, too

Ouf! That sentence was copyrighted!!! You flattened the intent of what I meant to say. (tears) smile The point is, it may be clunky but it is supposed to make clear that this phenomenen has been going on for years. Many, but still a minor part could not write correct Dutch. Now that this part has become the larger part mesurements have been taken.

That wasn't clear? Then: clunky sentence! Throw it away! (grin)

Your sentence is perfect of course but it does not cover the poor load.

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Originally Posted By: BranShea
1.Universities here complain that a too large part of newly entering students is no longer able to write correct Dutch.

2. Universities here complain that a too large part of newly entering students are no longer able to write correct Dutch.



What we have here is some confusion about the number of the subject. If the subject is part it's singular and is is correct. If it's students it's plural and are is correct. I would suggest that if this sentence were just fired off without much thought the correct are would be used. If it were over analyzed the writer might have thought that the subject was the singular part and would have incorrected it.

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I can't see two subjects in this sentence and the is sounds good to me.

@ Goofy. Well, I guess my standard Dutch is reponsable for choosing is in this. We would never say a bunch of boys are. A flock of birds are never flying in Dutch. It is. Blame it on Babylon.

Last edited by BranShea; 10/21/11 10:02 PM. Reason: Babylon
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Maybe part of is functioning like a determiner, like bunch of or crew of:
Quote:
A bunch of the boys were whooping it up in the Malamute saloon - Robert Service, "The Shooting of Dan McGrew"

Quote:
A crew of Pyrates are driven - Jonathan Swift, "Gulliver's Travels"


This is discussed by MWDEU under agreement, subject-verb; a bunch of the boys.

My native speaker intuition tells me that the sentence with the singular verb is wrong. That might not mean much, after all my dialect is not the same as Standard English. But based on the MDWEU entry, I think my dialect and Standard English line up on this point. So I'm changing my mind. This isn't the principle of proximity at work. The Standard English sentence is the one with the plural verb.

Last edited by goofy; 10/21/11 09:33 PM.
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Originally Posted By: Faldage
incorrected


love it.


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And what is called when one person imposes confines on the
conversation? Colloquially - not in organized debate.


I'd say "lectures".


Ceci n'est pas un seing.
zmjezhd #202902 10/22/11 01:14 AM
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I am thinking more of when one person decides what
will or will not be discussed at their whim and fancy,
imposing this on others.


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I am thinking more of when one person decides what will or will not be discussed at their whim and fancy, imposing this on others.

Not sure what you're talking about, but I don't see anybody stopping you. I've known Branshea a lot longer than you, and if I've upset her with my postings, she'll no doubt get in touch with me via other methods and let me know. She doesn't need you policing the boards for her or me or anybody else.


Ceci n'est pas un seing.
zmjezhd #202904 10/22/11 04:18 PM
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You missed the point entirely. So I'll drop it. And I am not
policing the boards, tho' there are those here who do.


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