what + [object] + is vs. what + is + [object]

chris   Sat Sep 12, 2009 2:08 pm GMT
I got this sentence from a computer-related website (anandtech.com):

"Rather than trying to explain what a package manager is, it would be easier to explain what is a package manager. Package mangers are more common than most people would think, as there are several systems that use package managers without it manifesting itself in an obvious way."

I'm confused at the meaning of the first sentence; it seems like saying the same thing. Can someone help explain what the author is saying (if there's no mistake in the sentence)? The name of the author suggests he is a native speaker.

Thanks.
guest   Sat Sep 12, 2009 3:55 pm GMT
Hmm, I find this confusing too, and I'm a native speaker. The first sentence does sound like it is saying the same thing twice, except I don't even think "to explain what is a package manager" is grammatically correct.

I just looked up that passage on the website you mentioned. It may have been an absent-minded typo. In the first paragraph, the author talks about the Ubuntu Package Manager, and then in the paragraph you quoted, he talks about package managers in general. So maybe he wanted to say, "Rather than trying to explain what the Package Manager is, it would be easier to explain what a package manager is." Note the difference between "the" and "a". The sentence is still a bit pointless though. I hope that helps.
truth speaker   Sat Sep 12, 2009 11:00 pm GMT
Rather than saying what a package manager is made up of, I'll say what a makes up a package manager.

what a package manager is = first describe the package manager, and then go on to explain what it is for and how it works etc.
what is a package manager = he wants to provide motivation before introducing the package manager, introduce a list of concepts and describe them first, and only then go on to explain how they relate to a package manager.
chris   Mon Sep 14, 2009 4:24 pm GMT
Ok, thank you all. I think both of you have valid points and perhaps the meaning of the sentence indeed lies in a bit combination of both. I agree it is a bit pointless.
Robin Michael   Tue Sep 15, 2009 4:30 am GMT
"Hmm, I find this confusing too, and I'm a native speaker."



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