Five thats

[xwb]

I normally type the following to check spelling/grammar checkers and automatic translators.

He said that that that that that boy used was an adjective

Early versions of many word processors moaned about the repeated thats. Latest version of Word insisted on changing the 3rd that to which. In fact, it always insists on changing that to which when used in a certain context.

It is great when you try it on automatic language translators and then back into English. With Japanese on Babelfish, it returns with

He that that the boy who is used is adjective said

 

[Zathras]

A chestnut (Supply the punctuation):

That that is is that that is not is not that that is is not that that is not that that is not is not that that is is not that so that is



And if you like that one, try this:

John where Jim had had had had had had had had had had had the teacher's approval

 

[strongm]

First one ... erm ...

[white]That that is is that that is not is not. That that is is not that that is not. That that is not is not that that is. Is not that so? That is[/white]

The second one's easy:

[white]John, where Jim had had "had", had had "had had". "Had had" had had the teacher's approval[/white]

 

[CajunCenturion]

My take on the first one:

[COLOR=white white]That that is, is; that that is not, is not; that that is, is not that that is not; that that is not, is not that that is. is not that so? that is![/color]

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[strongm]

Yep, much better than my attempt

 

[donbott]

Isn't there one of these with a bunch of buffalos? I remember seeing it and not being able to crack it.

DonBott

Author
10 Years Later: Jonh Bobbit remembered

 

[ESquared]

Yes, eleven of them.

Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo.

Sigh... I obviously couldn't count when I started the thread and said there were ten words.

 

[ESquared]

A wikipedia article has sprung up about the eight-buffalo sentence. And you simply must read the unencylopedia entry for buffalo.

In reading the wikipedia article I discovered that one can have an infinite number of buffalos in a sentence, for in each case that one uses a single buffalo, it can be replaced with a longer phrase such as "buffalo buffalo.