But? There's always a but. When this is over, can we have a big 'but' moratorium?

Fred ,'Smile Time'


Natter 72: We Were Unprepared for This  

Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.


-t - May 30, 2014 4:47:19 pm PDT #28832 of 30000
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration

It's because of the "is" that "she" is correct, right? Is that one of those grammar rules that tries to make English behave like Latin?

Although, hm, if you were to ask "is that Kate swinging next to Allie", "there she swings" would be a correct answer, yes?

What's the word for that case, nominative?


Ginger - May 30, 2014 4:47:27 pm PDT #28833 of 30000
"It didn't taste good. It tasted soooo horrible. It tasted like....a vodka martini." - Matilda

That is she swinging" really sounds wrong but I can't reason out why it might be.

It sounds wrong because a gerund is usually modified by a possessive when it acts like a noun, e.g., "He admired her swinging." This is one of the cases in which it's easier to rephrase than think about it.


-t - May 30, 2014 5:02:23 pm PDT #28834 of 30000
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration

Is it acting like a noun when you say "is that Kate swinging?"

Does that sentence need two question marks? I feel like it does.

My MiL is apparently in California for a wedding. I'm meeting her at the cemetery on Sunday. I think it will probably be nice? We'll see. She's stopping on her way to the airport, basically, so at least there isn't a lot of hostessing expectation involved.

Today is my tenth wedding anniversary, and the fourth anniversary of DH's funeral, so, y'know, it's a fraught time.


Amy - May 30, 2014 5:03:58 pm PDT #28835 of 30000
Because books.

That's hard, -t. Wishing you all the ~ma you need.


-t - May 30, 2014 5:15:49 pm PDT #28836 of 30000
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration

Thanks, Amy. It's kind of weird how little contact I have with his family anymore, but it's not animosity just, I don't know, mostly geography, I guess.


Amy - May 30, 2014 5:30:12 pm PDT #28837 of 30000
Because books.

Watching Crossbones. Richard Coyle reminds me a lot of Russell Crowe. John Malkovich is admirably chewing all the scenery, too.


sarameg - May 30, 2014 5:32:15 pm PDT #28838 of 30000

I am in South Dakota! Drive from Mnpls wasn't bad, only a couple of patches of rain. I did appear to dodge a doozy. My aunt's dithering has the potential to make me batty, but I think I'm fending it off with "she's not MY mom, thank god" and letting everyone else be annoyed with her!

Man, it's been over a decade since I was out here. Strange to think the 3rd generation is taking over the farm.


Ginger - May 30, 2014 5:34:10 pm PDT #28839 of 30000
"It didn't taste good. It tasted soooo horrible. It tasted like....a vodka martini." - Matilda

That's hard, -t.

Is it acting like a noun when you say "is that Kate swinging?"

No, there it's being a present participle, just to confuse you.


-t - May 30, 2014 5:35:51 pm PDT #28840 of 30000
I am a woman of various inclinations and only some of the time are they to burn everything down in frustration

Glad you made it, sarameg!

I think participles in general are beyond my scope.


Burrell - May 30, 2014 5:37:30 pm PDT #28841 of 30000
Why did Darth Vader cross the road? To get to the Dark Side!

Oh -t, sending you much ~ma and wrapping you in a virtual blanket.