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Latest post Wed, Oct 15 2008 12:29 AM by AlpheccaStars. 5 replies.
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Fandorin  +  576405 Tue, 14 Oct 08 10:31 PM
Hi there.

I have my brother live in the USA. (I make him live there)
Are those the same?
And is it correct to say that way if I only mean he lives there?

Thank in advance.
Joined on Thu, Dec 20 2007
Moscow
Contributing Member 1,382
Whatever happens, be yourself.
Grammar Geek  +  576409 Tue, 14 Oct 08 10:36 PM

Hi Fandorin,

It's a very unnatural sentence, both in constrution and in meaning.

I will have my driver pick you up at 7 = I will cause my driver to do this.

I have my personal chef remove the grapes from their skins before I eat them = I require him to do this regularly.

I can't imagine how you could "have your brother live" somewhere.

My brother lives in the US is simply the natural way to say this. Or I have a brother who lives in the US.

 

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Veteran Member 19,652
Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random!
Fandorin  +  576411 Tue, 14 Oct 08 10:39 PM
Thank you, GG.
So, if I force him to live there. Anyway, it sounds awkward, doesn't it?
Grammar Geek  +  576412 Tue, 14 Oct 08 10:40 PM

Extremely.

I require my brother to live in the US is odd semantically, but much less odd grammatically.

Fandorin  +  576413 Tue, 14 Oct 08 10:42 PM
Thank you, GG.
AlpheccaStars  +  576435 Wed, 15 Oct 08 12:29 AM
Possibilities, in order of free will:

I invited my brother to live with me in the USA and he accepted.

I asked my brother to live in the USA and he agreed.

I persuaded / convinced my brother to live in the USA and he reluctantly agreed.

I ordered my brother to live  in the USA and he obeyed.

I kidnapped my brother and forced him to live with me in the USA locked up in a room. 

Joined on Sun, Oct 12 2008
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