Grammar help

Posted by Graham Foster on August 30, 2002

In Reply to: Grammar help posted by Barney on August 30, 2002

: : : : : The only thing we overlook ARE wide open spaces.

: : : : : The only thing we overlook IS wide open spaces.

: : : : : Paging R. Berg. Which is correct? The grammar mavens are divided on this question. The sentence is for a proposed customer service ad with a visual pun -- a scenic overlook.

: : : : IS is correct. The noun that governs is "thing," the subject of the sentence.

Shouldn't it be the only THINGS we overlook ARE wide open spaces. And why doesn't the newsreader say "Here ARE the News"?

• Here are the news? R. Berg 08/30/02
  • Here are the news? ESC 08/30/02
    • Rewriting a slogan R. Berg 08/30/02