What is or what are?

[misu]

I am suddenly confused by something that even a beginner might know.

Is it correct to say: "What are her parents' names"? It sounds wrong to me. I feel the urge to rather say "What's", but the singular form might be also wrong, isn't it?

 

[GoesStation]

How many names is the question asking for?

 

[misu]

Playing Socrates? :-D

Ok, it is correct to say :"What are her parents' names?".
I see.

 

[GoesStation]

Playing Socrates? :-D

Ok, it is correct to say :"What are her parents' names?".
I see.

Correct, and yes, I try to employ the Socratic method. I first heard about it when my brilliant best friend used it to describe our excellent eighth-grade (age 13-14) social studies teacher's approach.

 

[misu]

I see. You might think that it is always and in every situation appropriate but some others might be of a different opinion.
Anyway thank you for your answer to my question.

 

[GoesStation]

I see. You might think that it is always and in every situation appropriate but some others might be of a different opinion.
Anyway thank you for your answer to my question.

I'm a volunteer, trying to make my time here as effective as possible. Providing answers rarely implants information as well as guiding the student towards finding them for him/herself.