This isn’t something I’ve ever really wondered. For a native English speaker, which one to use is rarely in doubt. Sure some regional dialects might use is and are in non-standard ways, but if asked, most speakers of these dialects would know the “proper” form of the verb to be to use.
Which is why I was surprised to see the following headline on the BBC website: Continue reading
We don’t know. Maybe.
Was there life on Mars?
We don’t know, but it now looks a little more likely that there was. This evening, it was revealed that the Curiosity Rover on Mars had discovered organic matter.
This is exciting, but not proof of life. Because organic matter is… is… what exactly is organic matter? Continue reading
Today is the anniversary of the D-Day landings of 6 June 1944, when Allied forces landed on a series of beaches in Normandy, France, thus beginning their invasion of German-occupied Western Europe during World War II.
While writing yesterday about our dear friend Donald Trump, I used the word repercussions. It stood out, as I don’t use it very often, and I thought about it for a few moments. Continue reading
Big surprise, eh?
I won’t bore you with all the examples: just have a look at the video from yesterday’s post in which he gets himself caught in the incredibly simple lie of claiming to have read a letter he hadn’t opened.
Of course it’s worrying that the president of the United States is an inveterate liar and a cheap con man who’s already talking about pardoning himself. But what’s worrying a lot of people on top of all this, is how Trump’s lies are being reported.
Look at him there. Look at his face. Look at how happy he is to have his big, important letter. The North Koreans really understand him perfectly: give him a really big letter, in a really big envelope, flatter him, make him feel important.
Trump Says North Korea Summit Back On
It’s tiring, isn’t it, trying to keep up with global politics today? Don’t worry, I’m not going to get all political again. Rather, I started thinking of that word summit today.
English-Language Thoughts 