Isn't and Aren't

Merlin5 · 9 Mar 2022 at 16:55

Which would you say is grammatically correct and can 1 and 2 both be correct? If so, what makes them both correct? I imagine 3 and 4 would definitely never be acceptable?

1 Not saying there isn't a few OCuK members in GD in awe of my thread because there is.

2 Not saying there aren't a few OCuK members in GD in awe of my thread because there are.

3 Not saying there isn't a few OCuK members in GD in awe of my thread because there are.

4 Not saying there aren't a few OCuK members in GD in awe of my thread because there is.

Yaayuh! · 9 Mar 2022 at 16:57

2.

Because I said so.

taB · 9 Mar 2022 at 16:57

I'm in oar of this thread.

kaiowas · 9 Mar 2022 at 17:02

Not a grammar expert but in my opinion:

He is. They are.

Because you are talking about a few members (implying more than 1) you should use ‘are’ in both cases.

Irish_Tom · 9 Mar 2022 at 17:04

2 because it's plural.

Merlin5 · 9 Mar 2022 at 17:06

Reason I thought to make this thread is because I read a sentence written by a photographer, and I quote:

"Now I'm not saying that there isn't a lot of talented shooters out there with lightning fast reflexes that are able to catch that fraction of a second in time that make a truly stunning photo as no doubt there is."

So he's using singular for multiple people. But of course he might be grammatically wrong.

Merlin5 · 9 Mar 2022 at 17:08

kaiowas said:
Not a grammar expert but in my opinion:

He is. They are.

Because you are talking about a few members (implying more than 1) you should use ‘are’ in both cases.

That's my thinking too.

peterwalkley · 9 Mar 2022 at 17:08

2

The photographer is wrong.

jaybee · 9 Mar 2022 at 17:46

2 but with a comma after the word "thread".

throwaway4372 · 9 Mar 2022 at 17:56

2 plus comma is the right answer innit

radderfire · 9 Mar 2022 at 18:22

2

I think the photographer is incorrect because the "a lot of" he is referring to is a plural.

drakulton · 9 Mar 2022 at 18:33

The photographer is envious that other people can take better snaps than he can.

mrk · 9 Mar 2022 at 18:34

Isn't assumes you are talking about one person in this context, that doesn't work when right afterwards you are saying a few OcUK members. Aren't is the correct word to use in this context.

potatolord · 9 Mar 2022 at 18:54

2.

Say them out loud, and the others sound horrible.

throwaway4372 · 9 Mar 2022 at 19:08

Some other observations, just in case it's a trick question:
- Starting a sentence with "Not" doesn't make sense, should be "I'm not" or equivalent.
- "OCuK" should be "OCUK", although sometimes they write "OcUK" because f consistency.

Hades · 9 Mar 2022 at 19:12

2.

Or 5. Pancake

something daft already!! · 9 Mar 2022 at 20:07

Ain't, as in "Ain't the paint quaint?"
or isn't as in "Isn't the pisant quisant?"

Blackjack Davy · 10 Mar 2022 at 00:29

5. Not saying there bain't a few OCuK members in GD in awe of my thread because there be.

RoyMi6 · 10 Mar 2022 at 06:49

Aren't the obvious answer number 3? :cool:

d_brennen · 10 Mar 2022 at 07:04

Aint none of those rite m8