had decided that I have / had decided that I had

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Mkyol

#457140 Wed, 26 Dec 07 10:34 AM

1) "My mother had decided that I have talent in language and literature, and opened my eyes to them."

2) "My mother had decided that I had talent in language and literature, and opened my eyes to them."

Which one is correct? The thing bothering me is 'I had talent' somehow feels like "I had it but now I don't", kind of idea, but in the context of the sentence structure this is not what it means, right? (I'm thinking 2) is correct)

Mkyol

Joined on Tue, Dec 18 2007

Full Member (157)

Sentence structures, Literature

Doll

#457177 Wed, 26 Dec 07 01:59 PM

My try:

1) "My mother had decided that I have talent in language and literature, and opened my eyes to them." --- Grammatically wrong sentence.

2) "My mother had decided that I had talent in language and literature, and opened my eyes to them."-- This is okay.

The thing bothering me is 'I had talent' somehow feels like "I had it but now I don't", kind of idea, but in the context of the sentence structure this is not what it means, right? No, I can't make the same comment. I think such an information wasn't given in the sentece. Smile [:)]

Doll

Joined on Sat, Mar 10 2007

Turkey

Senior Member (2,519)

I am a netizen!

Sentence structures, Literature

Anonymous

#457184 Wed, 26 Dec 07 02:29 PM

Mkyol wrote:

1) "My mother had decided that I have talent in language and literature, and opened my eyes to them."

2) "My mother had decided that I had talent in language and literature, and opened my eyes to them."

Which one is correct? The thing bothering me is 'I had talent' somehow feels like "I had it but now I don't", kind of idea, but in the context of the sentence structure this is not what it means, right? (I'm thinking 2) is correct)

In the sentence, there is something about "talent," "language," "literature," and "them" that sounds awkward. Should them be it?

My mother had decided that I had talent [in language and literature], and opened my eyes to it.

? Smile [:)]

Anonymous

Sentence structures, Literature

Anonymous

#457217 Wed, 26 Dec 07 05:06 PM

Thanks for the reply doll, I think I get it now..

As for using 'it' rather than 'them'.. I originally wrote it as 'it' but I saw that language and literature were two things, so I used 'them' instead. If there's something wrong with that, please comment.

Anonymous

Literature

Mkyol

#457219 Wed, 26 Dec 07 05:09 PM

Thanks for the reply Doll, I think I get it (for) now..

As for using 'it' rather than 'them', I originally wrote it as 'it', but then I noticed that language and literature were two things, so I changed it to 'them' instead. If there's something wrong with this someone please comment.

Mkyol

Literature

CalifJim

#457267 Wed, 26 Dec 07 06:47 PM

It depends what you mean. The question is, "What's in your head?" Only you can answer it! Smile [:)]

If you're thinking "opened my eyes to talent", use "it".
If you're thinking "opened my eyes to language and literature", use "them".

CJ

CalifJim

Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004

California

Veteran Member (16,964)

"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche

Literature

Mkyol

#457287 Wed, 26 Dec 07 07:25 PM

ah, i see the light now Smile [:)] .. thanks again

Mkyol

Bluejay

#457291 Wed, 26 Dec 07 07:29 PM

Smile [:)]

CalifJim wrote:
It depends what you mean. The question is, "What's in your head?" Only you can answer it!

If you're thinking "opened my eyes to talent", use "it".
If you're thinking "opened my eyes to language and literature", use "them".

CJ

Smile [:)]

That might be okay for the writer of the sentence, but his or her audience might be a little confused. I think the sentence needs a rewrite to make things clear for all.

Bluejay

Joined on Fri, Sep 14 2007

New Member (16)

Literature

CalifJim

#457315 Wed, 26 Dec 07 09:00 PM

On the contrary! It is exactly the ability of the speaker to choose between "it" and "them" that makes it clear to the listener which antecedent is intended. Once the choice is made, there is no ambiguity.

It's like this:

Martha and her son were at the party. The party was being given by one of [her? / his?] friends.

Pick her and it's one of Martha's friends.
Pick his and it's one of her son's friends.
No doubt about which is which. Smile [:)]

CalifJim