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shoot and shift
primary / secondary toxicity
Mar 10, 2010 15:35
14 yrs ago
6 viewers *
English term

set or sets

English Art/Literary General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
I have a doubt with the tense in this sentence. I would go with SET but the person who wrote it added an S...

XXXX is a photographer whose out-of-the-box thinking and passion for the visual arts SETS her apart.

Thanks in advance!
Responses
4 +11 set
Change log

Mar 10, 2010 16:15: Tony M changed "Term asked" from "SET or SETS" to "set or sets" , "Field" from "Marketing" to "Art/Literary" , "Field (specific)" from "Marketing" to "General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters"

Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:

Non-PRO (1): Tony M

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Discussion

BAmary (X) (asker) Mar 12, 2010:
In a grammar book I have, it did say that when the elements form one unit of thought in the mind of the speaker, the verb can be in the third person singular, as in the case of "health and safety matters". I would still go with the third plural in this case though. Thanks again for your help. Rgds, Maria
Craig Meulen Mar 10, 2010:
Abstract concepts sometimes combined in mind Yes, there are two nouns and so grammatically speaking, the third person plural form of the verb is correct. However, the nouns are both abstract things "thinking" and "passion". For me, in this sentence, they describe two aspects of the "creativity" of this photographer. So it's perfectly natural for me as a native speaker to make the "mistake" of setting the verb to agree with this singular overarching concept "creativity". A case where you have to know what's in the speaker's/writer's mind, not in their words.
BAmary (X) (asker) Mar 10, 2010:
It's present, not past. I agree about the subject of the clause being plural and, as I stated in my question, I thought the right answer was "set", only that the sentence was written by an English writer so I kind of doubted... I thought I may have been missing something. Thanks for everyone's help. I appreciate it.
Tony M Mar 10, 2010:
TENSE? I note that your question specifically addresses the tense — I think we're all agreed that the plural subject demands the plural verb 'set'... if it is in the present tense.

Of course, if this is the simple past tense (can you tell from the wider context?), then it would be 'set' in both singular and plural.

Either way, I don't think 'sets' is right

Responses

+11
4 mins
Selected

set

:) the subject is plural, so SET is right
Note from asker:
I think the subject of the clause is "out-of-the-box thinking and passion for the visual arts" and that's why I'm more inclined to use "set". If I replace it by saying "XXXX is a photographer whose PHOTOS are beautiful", I can't say her photos IS, right?
Peer comment(s):
agree Sheila Wilson : The photographer is the subject // my apologies, Clauwolf, for not reading it carefully enough. I've changed my disagree to an agree
0 min
don't worry Sheila - and thanks for the agree!
agree George C. : I believe "out-of-the-box thinking and passion for the visual arts" is the subject here :)
4 mins
right
agree Rolf Keiser : with george, since the 2 traits "set" her apart
13 mins
thanks
agree Jack Doughty
23 mins
thanks
agree Tony M : And in any case if it were past tense.
32 mins
thanks
agree Stephanie Ezrol
33 mins
thanks
agree Sarah Bessioud
37 mins
thanks
agree Jenni Lukac (X)
5 hrs
thanks
agree Pham Huu Phuoc
14 hrs
thanks
agree Alexandra Taggart : there are two things that set her/him apart
1 day 8 hrs
agree Ildiko Santana
1 day 11 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks Clawwolf!"
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