Grammar pedants - help please.

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LindsD Jan 2020 3:54pm, 25 Jan 2020 32,953 posts	0 LindsD Thay actually made me smile.
ChrisHB Jan 2020 3:37pm, 27 Jan 2020 18,774 posts	0 ChrisHB Words of one syllable.... I've always felt that for a word to be described as 'of one syllable' it's not essential for the syllable count to equal one. For instance: I did it myself. OTOH I would only use that in my own mind. Others, I've noticed, are less particular. Can anyone think of an expression as forceful as 'of one syllable' that doesn't arouse the pedant?
Cerrertonia Jan 2020 7:47pm, 27 Jan 2020 11,911 posts	0 Cerrertonia Sir Philip Pullman criticises the Brexit 50p coin for its lack of an Oxford comma. bbc.co.uk
larkim Jan 2020 2:46pm, 29 Jan 2020 10,212 posts	0 larkim When talking about just one building:- "The premises has suffered from storm damage" or "The premises have suffered from storm damage"?
Northern Exile Jan 2020 3:01pm, 29 Jan 2020 5,870 posts	0 Northern Exile I'd say it's the latter option as "premises" is one of those words that doesn't have a singular in the context of building or buildings.
Zorba Jan 2020 3:10pm, 29 Jan 2020 1,691 posts	0 Zorba I think you are arguing from different premises
♪♫ Synge ♪♫ Jan 2020 3:10pm, 29 Jan 2020 30,851 posts	0 ♪♫ Synge ♪♫ The building has suffered ... ? (But agree with NE if premises is essential.)
larkim Jan 2020 3:16pm, 29 Jan 2020 10,214 posts	0 larkim In context, the premises is a multi-building site. So premises is easier than "buildings on the site have", and it's not just buildings that have suffered. But I agree that an alternative word might alleviate the issue! But, if premises is the right noun then:- "All of our shops across the country have been repainted. We are now confident that our premises are refreshed and looking vibrant nationwide." "We have repainted our shop. We are now confident that our premises is refreshed and looking vibrant."
Northern Exile Jan 2020 3:21pm, 29 Jan 2020 5,871 posts	0 Northern Exile Hmm. Final sentence looks awkward to me, the verb needs to be in the plural - ~ our premises are refreshed" etc. It might be inferred from the context that the premises constitute a single building (shop), but the verb needs to quantify the plural nature of the noun.
Badger Jan 2020 3:23pm, 29 Jan 2020 11,893 posts	0 Badger It's still plural even if it's one building, because it refers to the land the building(s) are on along with the building(s) and any outhouses/garages/whatever else, from a quick poke around some language sites. I would therefore use "our premises are refreshed" even in your second example there. Short & sweet version en.wikipedia.org