Yes, you are right, and I knew when I logged in, that someone would point out how bad an example the supermarkets can be for our developing youth. It is an example of how common errors get adopted as acceptable over time. since you opened the toping grammar, I will vent MY pet peeve.
It is the loss of the subjunctive for of the verb "to be" Example:
"If I were you, I would stay in school." (Correct)
"If I was you, I would stay in school." (Incorrect ghetto talk)
The latter has been used more and more in television shows, because kids cannot understand the rule of when "were" and "was" is used.
"I wish he weren't leaving our company." (Correct)
"I wish he wasn't leaving our company" (Ouch, what are you? Twelve years old?).
Had enough? NO?
Okay try to pick the verb out of the following sentence. Realize tht only five percent of college-educated folks can do it.
"Please bring me a glass of distilled water."
(Hint: a critical word is ellipsisical, or assumed.) Actually the whole sentence is an abbreviation.
"When you throw dirt, you lose ground" --old proverb
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droche-3
18 years ago
Ha ha. Nobody ventured a guess. This was the $250,000 question on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. The contestant missed it. The correct answer is: "Please".
"When you throw dirt, you lose ground" --old proverb
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littlelump20
18 years ago
Having read through this thread in its entirety, I feel I should at least get something out of it. I just read your original question as well as the subsequent response. Would you please clarify your reasoning in assuming that "Please" is being used as a verb here? The sentence conveys the same message without its presence; therefore, I am compelled to say that in this instance, "please" is used to modify. It is simply used as a polite addition to the request to "bring me a glass of distilled water." In this usage, it serves as an adverb not a verb. Furthermore, even if somehow it is being used as a verb, I fail to see how "bring" is not. So the original request to identify THE (singular) verb in the sentence would seem to be a bit ambiguous.
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davidsmith666999
18 years ago
What the hell is this thread about? The first post says "This is bad grammer" and that's it. The name of the movie is "10 Items or Less" not "10 Items of Fewer"
Please explain...
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chichirodriguez2002
18 years ago
It was supposed to be a silly thread, but everyone's taking it too seriously. Jeez, guys. This isn't English class, don't get your panties in a wad. v.v
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Desertman84
14 years ago
Tens Items Or Less sounds more correct.
Besides,there is no reason not to use 10 items or fewer if one wants to.
One poster got it right.
This is not English class.
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