As you know, we're studying safe levels for arsenic in…
“As you know, we're studying safe levels for arsenic in drinking water to base our decision on sound science, the scientists told us we need to test the water glasses of about 3,000 people. Thank you for participating. Rarely is the question asked, is our children learning? Let us analyze that sentence for a moment. If you're a stickler, you probably think the singular verb is should have been the plural are, but if you read it closely, you'll see I'm using the intransitive plural subjunctive tense. So the word is are correct. In my sentences I go where no man has gone before...I am a boon to the English language.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The speaker discusses safe arsenic levels in water, mentions a grammatical debate, and boasts about language mastery, mixing science with linguistic quirks.
In simple terms: Science and grammar debate in one statement.
Key Takeaway
Separate scientific data from linguistic jokes.
Themes
science
public health
arsenic
grammar
linguistics
Mood
informative
light‑hearted
Type
Drinking water:1
English language:1
Science:1
Plural Subjunctive:0
Singular Verb:0
Think Singular:0
Intransitive Plural:0
Subjunctive Tense:0
When to use this quote
- policy briefing
- educational lecture
- language workshop
Key Concepts
water safety
statistical testing
grammar rules
public communication
Questions to Reflect On
- How does grammar affect scientific credibility?
- What are safe arsenic levels?
A Different Perspective
Mixing topics can confuse the audience.