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Simple Grammar Question - help?

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  • 15-06-2011 2:44pm
    #1
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 34,567 ✭✭✭✭


    Forgive me for asking what is probably a stupid question - its about grammar.
    (if its ok to ask here?)

    Which of these is correct?

    "She was late. Her mother and father waiting up for her were not impressed at all."

    "She was late. Her mother and father waiting up for her was not impressed at all."



    I'm writing the piece in a flashback section. Thanks. :)


Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 4,718 ✭✭✭The Mad Hatter


    Were.

    Edit to elaborate: a good trick is to take out intervening words. "Her mother and father…were not impressed at all." Because you're referring to her parents and not to her, you use the plural.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,066 ✭✭✭Finnbar01


    Biggins wrote: »
    Forgive me for asking what is probably a stupid question - its about grammar.
    (if its ok to ask here?)

    Which of these is correct?

    "She was late. Her mother and father waiting up for her were not impressed at all."

    "She was late. Her mother and father waiting up for her was not impressed at all."


    I'm writing the piece in a flashback section. Thanks. :)

    I think it is 'were'.

    If I rewrite it: 'She was Late. Her mother and father, who were waiting up for her, were not impressed at all.

    Mind you, my english is cat.

    :D


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Politics Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 81,309 CMod ✭✭✭✭coffee_cake


    Were.

    Edit to elaborate: a good trick is to take out intervening words. "Her mother and father…were not impressed at all." Because you're referring to her parents and not to her, you use the plural.

    This ^


  • Registered Users Posts: 12,746 ✭✭✭✭FewFew


    Also it's "It's" and not "its" ;)

    Wow, finally a place where grammar correction is encouraged! :D


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 34,567 ✭✭✭✭Biggins


    Thanks. The help is very much appreciated.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 4,276 ✭✭✭Memnoch


    Biggins wrote: »
    Forgive me for asking what is probably a stupid question - its about grammar.
    (if its ok to ask here?)

    Which of these is correct?

    "She was late. Her mother and father waiting up for her were not impressed at all."

    "She was late. Her mother and father waiting up for her was not impressed at all."



    I'm writing the piece in a flashback section. Thanks. :)

    Neither is correct.

    She was late. Her mother and father, waiting up for her, were not impressed at all.

    To me, it still feels like an awkward sentence.

    I would go with: She was late. Her mother and father had been waiting up for her, and were not impressed.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,943 ✭✭✭smcgiff


    Memnoch wrote: »
    I would go with: She was late. Her mother and father had been waiting up for her, and were not impressed.

    I'd go with: She was late. Her mother and father had been waiting up with the rolling pin and grounded her ass.' :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,066 ✭✭✭Finnbar01


    Memnoch wrote: »
    Neither is correct.

    She was late. Her mother and father, waiting up for her, were not impressed at all.

    To me, it still feels like an awkward sentence.

    I would go with: She was late. Her mother and father had been waiting up for her, and were not impressed.


    Should it not be: She was late. Her mother and father had been waiting up for her, and they were not impressed.

    :)


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,276 ✭✭✭Memnoch


    Finnbar01 wrote: »
    Should it not be: She was late. Her mother and father had been waiting up for her, and they were not impressed.

    :)

    Not 100% sure. The 'they' does feel slightly redundant. Though it sounds correct.


  • Registered Users Posts: 475 ✭✭candlegrease


    "She was late. Her mother and father, who were waiting up for her, were not impressed."


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 34,567 ✭✭✭✭Biggins


    Great help.
    Who would have thought one word could create a good debate! :D


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