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Proficient English speakers? Is this sentence correct?
What drew my attention to this programme is the variety of courses available.
10 Answers
- Anonymous4 weeks ago
What DREW my attention to the program WAS the variety of courses available --- notice the past tense verbs.
- P.L.Lv 71 month ago
Yes, it is perfect and I suggest that you do not change the word 'programme' as another user suggests. It is your choice of course and might be decided eventually by the area of the world with whom you will be corresponding. Some countries will use the shorter version of the word.
- Anonymous1 month ago
The old English spelling "programme " is archaic and not used by the vast majority of native English speakers. Even among Brits who favor archaic English spellings that would still be incorrect in that context.
Edit- I read through the other answers and noticed some disagreed with the subject-verb agreement. The way it's used isn't incorrect. You're saying what drew you (past tense) lead you to where you are now (present) .
- Anonymous1 month ago
Yes.
It's fine.
Your British English: programme
My American English: program
- formengLv 61 month ago
It's fine. The spelling "programme," is standard for the UK and those who use the UK spelling. If you're writing something for the USA, "program" would be the standard spelling. I should point out that the UK spelling would be okay in the USA for anything except the most formal writings. If, for example, you're applying for a job as an editor. lol
- UserLv 71 month ago
Yes...in the U.K.
(In the U.S. we spell it "program".)
P.S. some are saying that you should use "was" instead of "is", but in fact that is not necessary. It's the multitude of courses that exist NOW in the program that did (in the recent past) attract your attention. Keep "is".
- Anonymous1 month ago
It should say "was," not "is." That's because "drew" is past tense, so the present variety of courses available is not what drew your attention. The variety of courses available back when your attention was drawn "was" what drew your attention. Now, the variety of courses available may not have changed since then, but that is neither here nor there. It "was" the variety back then that did the drawing of your attention.
Also, only use the spelling "programme" if its intended audience is British or speaks British English (BrE) or if you are beholden to a British style guide, like Hart's. If the its intended audience is American or speaks American English (AmE) or if you are beholden to an American style guide, like MLA, then use the American spelling "program."
Finally, if you are, in fact, writing in BrE, know that collective nouns, like "variety," generally call for plural verb conjugation, not singular. This is most especially true if the plural objects being referred to are expressly included along side it, like in "variety of courses." So if you are writing in BrE, you would write, "What drew my attention to this programme were the variety of courses available," emphasis on the "were," not "was," like AmE calls for, and not the "is" you presently have there.
- bluebellbkkLv 71 month ago
It's not wrong, but I would prefer "was" the variety of courses.
"Drew" is Past tense. It WAS the variety of courses that attracted your attention.
- MarkLv 61 month ago
That sentence is correct, although in US English, the spelling "program" would be used. "Programme" is the UK spelling, so it depends on who you are writing to.