[Grammar] Is this sentence correct?

[maskiepop]

I'd like to know if this sentence is correct.

The sentence: "Quite likely, where I grew up, and how I grew up is, very, very different from yours."

If it's grammatically incorrect, please explain why, or point me to a reference, or something, that will explain it to me.

Thank you.

 

[5jj]

I'd like to know if this sentence is correct.

The sentence: "Quite likely, where I grew up, and how I grew up is, very, very different from yours."

If it's grammatically incorrect, please explain why, or point me to a reference, or something, that will explain it to me.

It is grammatically incorrect on two counts:

1. There are two subjects, where I grew up and when I grew up; the verb would therefore need to be the plural are.
2. Yours can refer to place/date of birth, but not to where/when I grew up.

You need to say something like:

My place of birth and manner of upbringing are/were very, very different from yours.

Where I grew up, and how I grew up are/were, very, very different from where and how you grew up.

Welcome to the forum, maskiepop.

 

[Tdol]

It is grammatically incorrect, but it sounds like the kind of thing people might say rather than write- in conversation, it wouldn't sound that wrong, but it does look strange in writing.

 

[maskiepop]

Thanks, everyone.

Which is a big part of my problem. I rely mostly on how it sounds.

 

[5jj]

Which is a big part of my problem. I rely mostly on how it sounds.

That's not necessarily a big problem unless you are intending to take an examination in English. When you ask a question in this forum, we assume that you want the 'correct' answer, one that would satisfy a Cambridge examiner.

In real life, many of us do not use formally correct English, especially in conversation.

 

[TheParser]

The sentence: "Quite likely, where I grew up, and how I grew up is, very, very different from yours."


DEAR TEACHERS:


(1) Would "is" be correct if the comma were placed behind "up":

Quite likely, where I grew up, and how I grew up, is very different from

your background.

Could we then say that "and how I grew up" is parenthetical:

"Quite likely, where I grew up (and how I grew up) is very different from your

background.

Thank you, teachers.

 

[5jj]

(1) Would "is" be correct if the comma were placed behind "up":

Quite likely, where I grew up, and how I grew up, is very different from

your background.

Could we then say that "and how I grew up" is parenthetical:

"Quite likely, where I grew up (and how I grew up) is very different from your

background.

I'd use 'are' there, especially in writing.

The bracketing of the additional thought does not change the fact that it is part of the subject. Compare these:

Luke (like his father) is short sighted
Luke and his father are short-sighted.
Luke is short-sighted, as is his father.
?Luke (and his father) ?? shortsighted.

 

[TheParser]

I'd use 'are' there, especially in writing.

The bracketing of the additional thought does not change the fact that it is part of the subject.

Thank you, Teacher Fivejedjon.

 

[TheParser]

I'd like to know if this sentence is correct.

The sentence: "Quite likely, where I grew up, and how I grew up is, very, very different from yours."

If it's grammatically incorrect, please explain why, or point me to a reference, or something, that will explain it to me.

Thank you.

DEAR TEACHERS:

Could the "is" be justified by saying that it is matter of ellipsis:

Quite likely, [the matter of] where I grew up and how I grew up is very different from your background.


Thank you, teachers.

 

[5jj]

The bracketing of the additional thought does not change the fact that it is part of the subject.

Thank you, Teacher Fivejedjon.

That's just my opinion - it is not given as an absolute fact. I am moderately sure I am right, but others may disagree.

 

[TheParser]

Teacher Fivejedjon:

May I have your comments about post no. 9 in this thread? Thank you/

 

[5jj]

May I have your comments about post no. 9 in this thread? Thank you/

Could the "is" be justified by saying that it is matter of ellipsis:

Quite likely, [the matter of] where I grew up and how I grew up is very different from your background.

. I have no problem with the full version: Quite likely, the matter/subject of where I grew up and how I grew up is very different from your background. Even here, however, the pedantic side of me would prefer something like: Quite likely, the matter/subject of where I grew up and how I grew up is very different from that of your background. The ellipted version does not work for me, though I suspect that it would not jar at all if I heard it in conversation.

There are times when I think that perhaps I have been a teacher for too long - I sometimes wince at things that are perfectly acceptable for most speakers.

 

[TheParser]

Thank you, Teacher Fivejedjon, for reminding me that I should have written "that of."

 

[5jj]

Thank you, Teacher Fivejedjon, for reminding me that I should have written "that of."

I didn't say 'you should have' written 'that of'; I said, emphasis added, 'the pedantic side of me would prefer something like ...that of ....'. I am not just playing with words there. Though I, personally, would probably write neither

Quite likely, the matter of where I grew up and how I grew up is very different from your background......or
Quite likely, where I grew up and how I grew up is very different from your background,

I see no objection to the first in everyday speech, and am not unhappy with the second, or with Quite likely, where and how I grew up is very different from your background.