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BePinkTheater View Drop Down
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Posts: 1386 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Is vs. Are
    Posted: January 01 2007 at 12:25
Should bands be reffered to as one unit, or as a group od musicians?
 
I feel that they should be unit, and therefore spoken about in a singular fashion, but i see many people use plural words when talking about bands.
ex:
Are dream theater any good?
 
when I feel it should be :
Is Dream Theater any good?
 
 
what are your thoughts?
I can strangle a canary in a tin can and it would be really original, but that wouldn't save it from sounding like utter sh*t.
-Stone Beard
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Posts: 14509 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 01 2007 at 12:28
First I think your being a bit pedantic and that either term is OK as bands tend to be both, a unit and a group of musicians (certainly in the example of DT).

Second, I think your in the wrong section.Wink
Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005

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Posts: 1386 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 01 2007 at 12:30
really?
I figured this was so loosely related to anything that it should go here...
 
but i guess once you really bring it up, it should be in the prog discussions not related to music section.
 
oh well
I can strangle a canary in a tin can and it would be really original, but that wouldn't save it from sounding like utter sh*t.
-Stone Beard
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Posts: 90012 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 01 2007 at 12:33
I've had this same thought many a time, BPT.

A band is a collective of musicians, so I believe a band should be "are".
An individual musician/artist should be "is".

That's how I always do it, but maybe I'm wrong.

"Dream Theater are bad" sounds better than "Dream Theater is bad", in my opinion.

Are VdGG good?
Is VdGG good?

Always the first option for me.

It's always:

Is Robert Wyatt good?

never

Are Robert Wyatt good?

It annoys me when people use "is" when referring to a band.  Yes I am a pedant.
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Posts: 46728 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 01 2007 at 13:07
ha, interesting semantics.

personally, when a band, you can say "are" by members, or "is" by musicianship. (VdGG are a group of music gentlemans (sp?)-> VdGG is a coup de brilliancy in prog music). hmm?


    
    

Edited by Ricochet - January 01 2007 at 13:09
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Posts: 15523 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 01 2007 at 13:08
The confusing english language. I agree with Rico.
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Posts: 998 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 01 2007 at 13:13
i have heard that "are" is correct.
 
however, i think it is in terms of how you refer to the band-as a single unit or as a group of people:
 
for example:
 
single unit: Emperor is a prominent black metal band. (referring to the band as a unit)
 
group of people: Emperor are fluent in english. (referring to the members in the band)


Edited by darksinger - January 01 2007 at 13:14
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Posts: 90012 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 01 2007 at 13:16
I've seen many people say stuff like:

VdGG is amazing!

That just doesn't seem right to me, yet many people use "is".

Jen is correct with her summation though.  It depends how you're referring to the band.
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Posts: 46728 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 01 2007 at 13:19
regarding you're example, my judgement would go like:

VdGG are amazing! (music and musicianship)

   but, with a special sense

VdGG sounds amazing! (sounds instead of is, but at singular)(sound, style, impression)

    

Edited by Ricochet - January 01 2007 at 13:19
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progismylife View Drop Down
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Posts: 15523 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 01 2007 at 13:21
Context is critical.

(or is it are critical? Wink)
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Posts: 46728 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 01 2007 at 13:22
Originally posted by progismylife

Context is critical. (or is it are critical? )


"is", let's not fancy now.
     
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progismylife View Drop Down
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Posts: 15523 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 01 2007 at 13:23
Originally posted by Ricochet

Originally posted by progismylife

Context is critical. (or is it are critical? Wink)


"is", let's not fancy now.
     


Stop taking my emoticons out!! Angry (I put it back in.)
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andu View Drop Down
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Posts: 3094 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 01 2007 at 13:28
I R baboon. I R like VdGG.

Big smile
"PA's own GI Joe!"

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Posts: 9209 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 01 2007 at 13:35
You are what you is.
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BePinkTheater View Drop Down
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Posts: 1386 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 01 2007 at 14:18
I really liked rico's post about it...
 
It seems that most people think is sounds weird, while I think are sounds weird.
 
so I guess we'll never really agree. But in the long run it really doesn't matter, I suppose.
I can strangle a canary in a tin can and it would be really original, but that wouldn't save it from sounding like utter sh*t.
-Stone Beard
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Posts: 46728 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 01 2007 at 14:42
Originally posted by andu

I R baboon. I R like VdGG.




     
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andu View Drop Down
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Posts: 3094 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 01 2007 at 14:48
Originally posted by Ricochet

Originally posted by andu

I R baboon. I R like VdGG.




     


gotta hand it to the classics...

HE doesn't care about grammar...   ----->
"PA's own GI Joe!"

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Posts: 46728 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 01 2007 at 14:58
Originally posted by andu


Originally posted by Ricochet

Originally posted by andu

I R baboon. I R like VdGG.




     
gotta hand it to the classics...HE doesn't care about grammar...   ----->


yes, I was completely blown by the nostalgia of watching that senseless cartoon.
     

and immaculate joke to the topic.
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Posts: 828 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 01 2007 at 15:22
Well, I'm no English master, but I think the correct way to say it would be:

"Dream Theater is a great band."

You use a singular verb (is) for a singular subject (Dream Theater).  You're only talking about one Dream Theater, so you use "is."  You may be talking about the members of the band and not the band itself, but grammar rules don't know that!
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Posts: 90012 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 01 2007 at 15:27
That is true, Sasquatch.  I guess we all like to shorten sentences into bad English.  Saying it the way you have done, is correct.

I will try and take care in future and not use poor English, such as: Dream Theater is bad.


Edited by Geck0 - January 01 2007 at 15:28
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