Offramp wrote on 10 February 2013 01:32:40 ...
So you think, "A set of lights have failed," is good English?

Yes, and it's not just me, or some new fashion. Look up any book on
English grammar from the last 100 years and you'll see that the advice
is that collective nouns like "set" may be followed by a singular or
plural verb.

If you've seen contrary advice, please provide a reference.
--
Richard J.
(to email me, swap 'uk' and 'yon' in address)

On 2013-02-10 03:05:53 +0000, Richard J. said:

Yes, and it's not just me, or some new fashion. Look up any book on
English grammar from the last 100 years and you'll see that the advice
is that collective nouns like "set" may be followed by a singular or
plural verb.

Indeed - as the original perpetrator of this heinous crime against
pedantry let me say that I would normally make it singular in formal
writing but it is also natural and not incorrect to make a group plural
- 'traffic lights' on its (their) own is cleary plural although it's a
singular set as in:

'The traffic lights are down at the junction.'

Adding 'the set of' doesn't mean we can't still use 'are' because the
lights are nearer to the verb - I think we can say:

'A set of traffic lights are on the blink.'

A true pedant would of course eliminate 'set of' as redundant.

E.

eastender writes:

On 2013-02-08 15:35:15 +0000, d said:

Why do you have to do the school run and cause traffic jams for people
who have to drive to work? Let the kid walk or get the bus.

It's about five miles to the school, which itself is not very near to
a bus or train station. We do take them on the train sometimes.

But thanks for addressing the traffic light problem.

Am amazed anywhere in London is that far from the nearest school.

In article , (Phil) wrote:

eastender writes:

On 2013-02-08 15:35:15 +0000, d said:

Why do you have to do the school run and cause traffic jams for people
who have to drive to work? Let the kid walk or get the bus.

It's about five miles to the school, which itself is not very near to
a bus or train station. We do take them on the train sometimes.

But thanks for addressing the traffic light problem.

Am amazed anywhere in London is that far from the nearest school.

What proportion of London children attend their nearest school? I didn't.

--
Colin Rosenstiel

In London children frequently are not granted places at their nearest school.

In message , at 09:31:20
on Sun, 10 Feb 2013, remarked:

What proportion of London children attend their nearest school? I didn't.

I recall reading a story about Tower Hamlets where only children living
within a couple of hundred yards managed to get into the local school.
In such circumstances the majority will be attending a not-nearest
school.
--
Roland Perry

On Sun, 10 Feb 2013 14:06:42 +0000, Phil wrote:

eastender writes:

On 2013-02-08 15:35:15 +0000, d said:

Why do you have to do the school run and cause traffic jams for people
who have to drive to work? Let the kid walk or get the bus.

It's about five miles to the school, which itself is not very near to
a bus or train station. We do take them on the train sometimes.

But thanks for addressing the traffic light problem.

Am amazed anywhere in London is that far from the nearest school.

I'm more amazed that the school is so far from a bus stop.

--
jhk

"Robin9" wrote in message
...

'Phil[_6_ Wrote:
;136044']eastender writes:
-
On 2013-02-08 15:35:15 +0000, d said:
-
Why do you have to do the school run and cause traffic jams for people
who have to drive to work? Let the kid walk or get the bus.-

It's about five miles to the school, which itself is not very near to
a bus or train station. We do take them on the train sometimes.

But thanks for addressing the traffic light problem.
-
Am amazed anywhere in London is that far from the nearest school.

In London children frequently are not granted places at their nearest
school.

ITYM

In London parents frequently don't want their children to go to the local
school!

tim

On Fri, 8 Feb 2013 16:26:39 +0000
eastender wrote:
On 2013-02-08 15:35:15 +0000, d said:

Why do you have to do the school run and cause traffic jams for people
who have to drive to work? Let the kid walk or get the bus.

It's about five miles to the school, which itself is not very near to a
bus or train station. We do take them on the train sometimes.

How can you live 5 miles from the school if you're in london? And even if
you do I believe public transport can manage that distance.

But thanks for addressing the traffic light problem.

If it wasn't for all the eejits on the school runs causing jams we probably
wouldn't need so many lights in the first place.

B2003

On Sun, 10 Feb 2013 14:06:42 +0000
Phil wrote:
eastender writes:

On 2013-02-08 15:35:15 +0000, d said:

Why do you have to do the school run and cause traffic jams for people
who have to drive to work? Let the kid walk or get the bus.

It's about five miles to the school, which itself is not very near to
a bus or train station. We do take them on the train sometimes.

But thanks for addressing the traffic light problem.

Am amazed anywhere in London is that far from the nearest school.

Its not. I live in an ordinary suburb and there are 4 schools within a mile
of my house. No one who lives in london has to send their kid 5 miles away.
As for it not being near a bus stop, yeah right!

B2003