Find three nouns in sentence

Thank you, Frank, for the compliment.

This thread is the first example known to science of perpetual motion.
In circles, of course.

Continue, Roger, a verb is described by ...

Explain to Lash how she has erred, McTag. Explain the discrepancies as regards, adverb/adjective/noun in the original. I wasn't able to find any of your "discussions". All I found was your curt dismissals.

Never mind Lash, I think (judging from what she wrote) that she is beyond help from me.
As I remember the original question, it was about trying to find three nouns in a sentence in which there are only two.

So there's your discussion. There are only two. I don't think I can usefully make that answer any longer, sorry.

It might be interesting (but only slightly) to find out the teacher's reasoning. I'm sorry that schoolchildren have to put up with crap like this, at public expense too.

Ever the prescriptivist, eh, McTag?

Here's the answer!!! Now stop thinking and memorize what I have told you!

I'm truly disappointed, McTag. How do you propose that problems get resolved if you don't find out the reasons, if you don't discuss those reasons, and thru discussion help those who are having trouble this exceedingly difficult area of study.



Do you mean, like, 'can v may' for permission; 'was' for use in the subjunctive mood; ... ?

I think that is a complete non-sequitur, but nevertheless I am sorry to be disappointing.

Which makes it a noun. The third thing we've agreed on in eight years.

Made me laugh.

At least you can feel warm about being right the other two times, Lash.



Original sentence:

The surface of the dining table needs to be wiped clean.

The test to determine what part of speech a word is, Lash, is how a word operates in a given sentence. In the original, above, you have done what you often do - leap to a conclusion without considering all you need to consider.

No doubt you'll disappear again when your leap is pointed out to you.

1. The surface of the dining table needs to be wiped a clean.

2. The surface of the dining table needs to be wiped the clean.

Does sentence 1 or 2 sound natural to you?

It's good when you can see the humour (sp) in a situation.

Just the same , we have an expression over here: when you're in a hole, you should stop digging.

It should have made you think, Lash. Remember, you are one of those charged with educating American kids in grammar and the way English works.