The Picard Maneuver@lemmy.worldM to memes@lemmy.world · 4 days agoA quick Chinese lessonlemmy.imagisphe.reimagemessage-square147linkfedilinkarrow-up1930arrow-down17
arrow-up1923arrow-down1imageA quick Chinese lessonlemmy.imagisphe.reThe Picard Maneuver@lemmy.worldM to memes@lemmy.world · 4 days agomessage-square147linkfedilink
minus-squareAlfalFaFail@lemmy.mllinkfedilinkarrow-up3·3 days agoBut they are asking with the number zero specifically. “There is zero pig” is not how we speak.
minus-squareJcbAzPx@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up1·2 days agoIt’s because English is three or four languages all smashed together, usually by force.
minus-squareAlfalFaFail@lemmy.mllinkfedilinkarrow-up1·3 days agoIf you insist on “is” then “zero” doesn’t work. But if you use “are” the sentence, “There are zero pigs” is totally cromulant. That’s because “pigs” in that sentence is addressing the category.
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But they are asking with the number zero specifically. “There is zero pig” is not how we speak.
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It’s because English is three or four languages all smashed together, usually by force.
If you insist on “is” then “zero” doesn’t work. But if you use “are” the sentence, “There are zero pigs” is totally cromulant. That’s because “pigs” in that sentence is addressing the category.