| Author |
Message |
dottty
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 8:08 am
Post subject: grammar help |
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hi,
which of the following is correct?
(1) Networking computers is .....
(2) Networking computers are ....
your advice would be appreciated.
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Mike Stevens
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 1:43 pm
Post subject: Re: grammar help |
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dottty wrote:
| Quote: | hi,
which of the following is correct?
(1) Networking computers is .....
(2) Networking computers are ....
|
Either can be correct, depending on the context.
"Networking computers is not an activity for idiots" is correct.
"Networking computers are good things in a busy office" is correct.
In the first, "networking computers" is a noun phrase and the subject of the
sentence. As an uncountable item it takes the singular form of the verb.
In the second "networking" is an adjective applied to "computers", the
latter being the subject of the sentence and thus taking the plural form of
the verb.
Or something like that.
Readers may or may not agree with either of the example statements given :-)
--
Mike Stevens
narrowboat Felis Catus II
Web site www.mike-stevens.co.uk
No man is an island. So is Man. |
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John of Aix
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 2:32 pm
Post subject: Re: grammar help |
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dottty wrote:
| Quote: | hi,
which of the following is correct?
(1) Networking computers is .....
(2) Networking computers are ....
your advice would be appreciated.
|
It depends if 'networking' is being used in isolation as a verb, so
"networking computers (together) is...' would be correct in that case
but if you are talking about the objects 'networking computers', then,
as a plural it would take 'are'.
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Nick Wagg
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 4:21 pm
Post subject: Re: grammar help |
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"dottty" <dottty@noemailpls.met> wrote in message
news:436afb7e$0$41147$14726298@news.sunsite.dk...
| Quote: | hi,
which of the following is correct?
(1) Networking computers is .....
(2) Networking computers are ....
your advice would be appreciated.
|
Both are correct in different circumstances. You may say
1) Networking computers is child's play or
2) Networking computers are usually connected by ethernet.
It all depends on whether "networking computers" is being used
as an activity (single noun) or whether it refers to computers
(plural noun) which network. |
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Tony Mountifield
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2005 12:04 am
Post subject: Re: grammar help |
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In article <1131132654.506397.204550@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com>,
Ivan <vorotyntsev@yahoo.com> wrote:
| Quote: |
Mike Stevens wrote:
dottty wrote:
hi,
which of the following is correct?
(1) Networking computers is .....
(2) Networking computers are ....
Either can be correct, depending on the context.
"Networking computers is not an activity for idiots" is correct.
"Networking computers are good things in a busy office" is correct.
In the first, "networking computers" is a noun phrase and the subject of the
sentence. As an uncountable item it takes the singular form of the verb.
In the second "networking" is an adjective applied to "computers", the
latter being the subject of the sentence and thus taking the plural form of
the verb.
Or something like that.
Readers may or may not agree with either of the example statements given :-)
"Networking computers" is not the correct noun phrase. It is "Networked
computers."
|
The one that Mike Stevens described as a noun phrase can't be changed
as you described. "Networking" is a gerund and "computers" the object
of the gerund, the pair being a phrase functioning as a noun, the
subject of "is".
The second sentence might indeed be more natural as "networked computers",
but that was not the one with the noun phrase.
Cheers
Tony
--
Tony Mountifield
Work: tony@softins.co.uk - http://www.softins.co.uk
Play: tony@mountifield.org - http://tony.mountifield.org |
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Ivan
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2005 2:30 am
Post subject: Re: grammar help |
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Mike Stevens wrote:
| Quote: | dottty wrote:
hi,
which of the following is correct?
(1) Networking computers is .....
(2) Networking computers are ....
Either can be correct, depending on the context.
"Networking computers is not an activity for idiots" is correct.
"Networking computers are good things in a busy office" is correct.
In the first, "networking computers" is a noun phrase and the subject of the
sentence. As an uncountable item it takes the singular form of the verb.
In the second "networking" is an adjective applied to "computers", the
latter being the subject of the sentence and thus taking the plural form of
the verb.
Or something like that.
Readers may or may not agree with either of the example statements given 
|
"Networking computers" is not the correct noun phrase. It is "Networked
computers."
Ivan |
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Peter Duncanson
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2005 3:41 am
Post subject: Re: grammar help |
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On 4 Nov 2005 11:30:54 -0800, "Ivan" <vorotyntsev@yahoo.com> wrote:
| Quote: |
Mike Stevens wrote:
dottty wrote:
hi,
which of the following is correct?
(1) Networking computers is .....
(2) Networking computers are ....
Either can be correct, depending on the context.
"Networking computers is not an activity for idiots" is correct.
"Networking computers are good things in a busy office" is correct.
In the first, "networking computers" is a noun phrase and the subject of the
sentence. As an uncountable item it takes the singular form of the verb.
In the second "networking" is an adjective applied to "computers", the
latter being the subject of the sentence and thus taking the plural form of
the verb.
Or something like that.
Readers may or may not agree with either of the example statements given :-)
"Networking computers" is not the correct noun phrase. It is "Networked
computers."
"Networking computers" is not a phrase I (45 years experience) am |
familiar with. Coming across the phrase for the first time it would
suggest to me routers, switches, and such like computer-based boxes.
However, in the context of the OP's question this is unlikely.
--
Peter Duncanson
UK (posting from u.c.l.e) |
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Paul Burke
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2005 6:10 pm
Post subject: Re: grammar help |
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Peter Duncanson wrote:
| Quote: |
"Networking computers" is not a phrase I (45 years experience) am
familiar with. Coming across the phrase for the first time it would
suggest to me routers, switches, and such like computer-based boxes.
However, in the context of the OP's question this is unlikely.
|
Yes, "networked computers", and "computer networking" would be more
likely. However, I think the OP's query was more general. Try "baking
cakes is easy", "baking cakes are hot" instead.
Paul Burke |
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