strike/strikes

Status
Not open for further replies.

wowenglish1

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 4, 2006
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Korean
Home Country
South Korea
Current Location
South Korea
I wonder which sentence is correct.
1. One of the things that strikes me about Twitter is how much it feels like a conversation in a pub.
2. One of the things that strike me about Twitter is how much it feels like a conversation in a pub.
 

riquecohen

VIP Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
Brazil
I wonder which sentence is correct.
1. One of the things that strikes me about Twitter is how much it feels like a conversation in a pub.
2. One of the things that strike me about Twitter is how much it feels like a conversation in a pub.
The first sentence is correct. You can paraphrase it as follows: One thing that strikes me..... (A singular subject needs a singular verb.)
 

Nightmare85

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
German
Home Country
Germany
Current Location
Germany
***Neither a teacher nor a native speaker.***

Hello,
I think this is a very interesting question. :up:
Probably both versions can be used.

Let's say:
Twitter has 10 features (example!).
You like 9 features but you dislike 1 feature.
One of the things that strikes me about...
Here "that" refers to the one feature you dislike.

But now let's say you dislike all 10 features.
One of the things that strike me about...
Here "that" refers to all the features (as a group) you dislike.

Maybe I'm wrong yet I would like to know your opinions. :)

Cheers!
 

Koronas

Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2010
Member Type
Other
Native Language
English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Greece
Maybe you can see the difference between the singular and the plural context if I use parentheses, thus:-

1. One (of the things) that strikes me about Twitter is how much it feels like a conversation in a pub.
2. One of the things (that strike me) about Twitter is how much it feels like a conversation in a pub.

There's a subtle difference in meaning!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top