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Grammarians: choose the correct sentences

L

LS20

Banned
I always use A, but hearing almost everyone use B makes me doubt myself

1. a) This device will help us find what the problem is
b) This device will help us find what is the problem

(probably has something to do with ending sentence with preposition..but A still sounds more fluid)

2. a) The weather has been terrific to referees, announcers, and fans, and all those that are involved with the sport
b) The weather has been terrific to referees, announcers, and fans, and all those WHO are involved with the sport

(B sounds incredibly wrong...but so many educated people say it that way???)
 
1. A
2. I would rather say, "The weather has been terrific to referees, announcers, fans, and all those involved with the sport.
 
1. just sounds weird - whats wrong with 'This device will help us find the problem.'?

2. the weather has been terrific to referees, announcers, fans, and all those that are involved with the sport.

both as originally stated are awkward.

 
2. Both are correct. Who is preferable since you're replacing people.

Eg. Break it into sentences.

The weather has been terrific to referees, announcers, fans, and those people.
Those people are involved with the sport.
-- The weather has been terrific to referees, announcers, fans, and those who are involved with the sport.

Another:

Bob is a man.
Bob lives up the street.
-- Bob is a man who lives up the street.
 
Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
2. Both are correct. Who is preferable since you're replacing people.
Click to expand...

right... that would be the obvious logic, but ive observed that something like 90% will say it the other way???
 
Originally posted by: LS20
I always use A, but hearing almost everyone use B makes me doubt myself

1. a) This device will help us find what the problem is
b) This device will help us find what is the problem

(probably has something to do with ending sentence with preposition..but A still sounds more fluid)

2. a) The weather has been terrific to referees, announcers, and fans, and all those that are involved with the sport
b) The weather has been terrific to referees, announcers, and fans, and all those WHO are involved with the sport

(B sounds incredibly wrong...but so many educated people say it that way???)
Click to expand...

1. (a) is right. (b) is colloquial.
2. (a) is right because of reference to people. Americans are too used to using "that".
 
Both are technically correct, b being more correct because it's an independant clause.

I think that's the only difference - one is dependant, the other is not.
 
Originally posted by: LS20
I always use A, but hearing almost everyone use B makes me doubt myself

1. a) This device will help us find what the problem is
b) This device will help us find what is the problem

(probably has something to do with ending sentence with preposition..but A still sounds more fluid)

2. a) The weather has been terrific to referees, announcers, and fans, and all those that are involved with the sport
b) The weather has been terrific to referees, announcers, and fans, and all those WHO are involved with the sport

(B sounds incredibly wrong...but so many educated people say it that way???)
Click to expand...

1. Poorly written both ways. I'd vote for:
c) This device will help us identify the problem.
(You can substitute locate for identify if it is more appropriate.)

2. Very poorly constructed sentence, whether you choose a or b.
 
Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
I really don't like using "what" as a replacement of "that which."
Click to expand...

I really don't like using "what is" as a replacement for " ".
 
Originally posted by: SlitheryDee
Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
I really don't like using "what" as a replacement of "that which."
Click to expand...

I really don't like using "what is" as a replacement for " ".
Click to expand...

In the OP's sentence, yes-- but aside from a non-native English speaker, who would say it either way the OP has it written?
 
Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
Originally posted by: SlitheryDee
Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
I really don't like using "what" as a replacement of "that which."
Click to expand...

I really don't like using "what is" as a replacement for " ".
Click to expand...

In the OP's sentence, yes-- but aside from a non-native English speaker, who would say it either way the OP has it written?
Click to expand...

I know quite a few people who would say it like A, but I guess there might not be a huge difference in people who are learning the language for the first time and people who never learned it correctly despite having plenty of time. :shrugs;
 
1a
2b

it is fine to end sentences with a preposition now. The gods who deem such things possible ok'd this ~3 years ago.

you are talking abou people here, so yes, you use "who" instead of "that"

but as stated earlier, there are better ways to refine those without excess verbiage; eliminating the problems entirely.
 
This device will help us find the problem.

The weather has been terrific to referees, announcers, fans, and all those involved with the sport.

 
Originally posted by: jjones
This device will help us find the problem.

The weather has been terrific to referees, announcers, fans, and all those involved with the sport.
Click to expand...

I'm gonna agree on this. A lot of times people write overtly verbose sentences to sound smarter. When written and read in a sentence, "This device will help us find the problem." sounds more fluid and less awkward.
 
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