Grammatical Question: help Forum

[TT09]

"Certain situations arise in a person’s life that defines who they are."

Does that look and sound weird to anybody? Should it be just the word define instead of defines? I don't know, it's bothering me...

[WhirledWorld]

.

[TT09]

Define, not defines. Though the sentence is off-putting for some other reason too... It at least seems a little trite, but I can't tell apart from its context.

Word keeps saying it's defines. That just sounds ridiculous to me. It's define, I know it!

[MichaelB123]

I'm pretty sure it's defines.

[quote="WhirledWorld"]Define, not defines. Though the sentence is off-putting for some other reason too... It at least seems a little trite, but I can't tell apart from its context.[/quote]

[MichaelB123]

[quote="TT09"][quote="WhirledWorld"]Define, not defines. Though the sentence is off-putting for some other reason too... It at least seems a little trite, but I can't tell apart from its context.[/quote]

Word keeps saying it's defines. That just sounds ridiculous to me. It's define, I know it![/quote]

[TT09]

Anyone else? I'm still very unsure...

[MichaelB123]

Just kidding. It's definitely define.

[MichaelB123]

A situation defines.

Situations define.

[plenipotentiary]

Define. But it's not a great sentence. It's too vague and I'm not down with the idea that circumstances define who you are.

[timmna]

Define. But it's not a great sentence. It's too vague and I'm not down with the idea that circumstances define who you are.

+1. I would think maybe situations might help shape you, etc., but not define you.

[TT09]

Define. But it's not a great sentence. It's too vague and I'm not down with the idea that circumstances define who you are.

+1. I would think maybe situations might help shape you, etc., but not define you.

"Certain situations arise in a person’s life that shape who they truly are."

Does that sound better?

[MichaelB123]

Define. But it's not a great sentence. It's too vague and I'm not down with the idea that circumstances define who you are.

+1. I would think maybe situations might help shape you, etc., but not define you.

"Certain situations arise in a person’s life that shape who they truly are."

Does that sound better?

It should be shapes, not shape.

[plenipotentiary]

Define. But it's not a great sentence. It's too vague and I'm not down with the idea that circumstances define who you are.

+1. I would think maybe situations might help shape you, etc., but not define you.

"Certain situations arise in a person’s life that shape who they truly are."

Does that sound better?

No, because it's still really vague and psuedo-philosophical. I doubt that the paragraph you're writing loses a whole lot of its meaning or impact if you eliminate this sentence. Just tell them about the situations that shaped who you are.

[TT09]

Define. But it's not a great sentence. It's too vague and I'm not down with the idea that circumstances define who you are.

+1. I would think maybe situations might help shape you, etc., but not define you.

"Certain situations arise in a person’s life that shape who they truly are."

Does that sound better?

No, because it's still really vague and psuedo-philosophical. I doubt that the paragraph you're writing loses a whole lot of its meaning or impact if you eliminate this sentence. Just tell them about the situations that shaped who you are.

It's vague because it's 1 sentence out of 4 in a paragraph. Kinda hard to tell where its going, being one sentence and all.

[plenipotentiary]

It's vague because it's 1 sentence out of 4 in a paragraph. Kinda hard to tell where its going, being one sentence and all.

Whatevz. Be defensive, keep your silly sentence. It's your app!

[TT09]

It's vague because it's 1 sentence out of 4 in a paragraph. Kinda hard to tell where its going, being one sentence and all.

Whatevz. Be defensive, keep your silly sentence. It's your app!

Not trying to be defensive! I want the help. Sorry for acting like somewhat of a tool-bag. I won't do it again, I swear

[philosoraptor]

"Certain situations arise in a person’s life that defines who they are."

Does that look and sound weird to anybody? Should it be just the word define instead of defines? I don't know, it's bothering me...

Here's why it's weird: Antecedent "person" is singular; pronoun "they" is plural. Implied subject "situations" is plural; verb "define" is singular. Make them agree. Better: "Certain situations define people."

However, I can't think of any context in which this sentence, grammatical or not, would add anything of value to your essay. Show, don't tell. And never use MS Word's so-called grammar checker.

[catsparka]

"Certain situations arise in a person’s life that defines who they are."

Does that look and sound weird to anybody? Should it be just the word define instead of defines? I don't know, it's bothering me...

Here's why it's weird: Antecedent "person" is singular; pronoun "they" is plural. Implied subject "situations" is plural; verb "define" is singular. Make them agree. Better: "Certain situations define people."

However, I can't think of any context in which this sentence, grammatical or not, would add anything of value to your essay. Show, don't tell. And never use MS Word's so-called grammar checker.

Nailed it.