General Questions. Please, help!

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Anonymous  #365571  Tue, 15 May 07 11:34 PM

Hello!

Please, could tell me which of the alternatives below is the correct one ?  

1) The jewelry has been sold (or) the jewelry have been sold ?;

2) The gift hasn't been given him (or) the gift hasn't been given to him ?;

3) Another house will be offered him (or) another house will be offered to him?;

 In relation to nº 2, I suppose isn't correct to say: The gift hasn't been given to Bob, is it?

Thanks,

Camille 

  
Clive  #365574  Tue, 15 May 07 11:37 PM

Hi,

Please, could tell me which of the alternatives below is the correct one ?  

1) The jewelry has been sold (or) the jewelry have been sold ?; Only the first form is OK.

2) The gift hasn't been given him (or) the gift hasn't been given to him ?; Both are O.K, but the second form is much, much more common.

3) Another house will be offered him (or) another house will be offered to him?; Same comment as for 2.

 In relation to nº 2, I suppose isn't correct to say: The gift hasn't been given to Bob, is it? Sure, it's fine to say this.

Best wishes, Clive

  
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Anonymous  #365608  Wed, 16 May 07 01:05 AM

Hello, Clive!

     Thank you. But I have two other questions, please.

1)  Why do the word 'jewelry' (plural form for jewel) takes a verb in the singular: "The jewelry has been sold".(?);

2) Why in this sentence: "The gift hasn't been given to Bob" is correct to say to Bob? Because as it appears after a verb, the only pronoun to be used wouldn't be an object one  = to him?

Best regards,

Camille

   

  
Clive  #365632  Wed, 16 May 07 01:35 AM

Hi,

1)  Why do the word 'jewelry' (plural form for jewel) takes a verb in the singular: "The jewelry has been sold".(?); '

Jewelry' is a singular word that refers to a collection of things like rings, necklaces, bracelets, etc. The plural of the word 'jewel' is simply 'jewels'.

2) Why in this sentence: "The gift hasn't been given to Bob" is correct to say to Bob? Because as it appears after a verb, the only pronoun to be used wouldn't be an object one  = to him?

I'm not sure what your argument is, here. Do you understand simpler forms like 'I gave the gift to Bob', 'The gift was given to Bob'. It's the same with your sentence. 'Bob' is the indirect object.

Best wishes,

Clive

  
Anonymous  #366497  Thu, 17 May 07 01:36 PM

Hi, Clive!

      Thanks for your attention. I see...My question was: 

       Bob, someone's name, is the same as the personal pronoun he, when used in the beginning of sentences. Example:

      - Bob is a good student (Bob = personal pronoun He) ,

      But when it appears after a verb as an indirect object , for example:

      - The gift hasn't been given to Bob  So here, Bob is the same as the object pronoun him, and not as the subject pronoun he.

      So because of this I thought that the grammar only accepted if we always write:

     - The gift hasn't been given to him (and not to Bob). But if  I don't misunderstood your explanation, there's any problem if I also write or say: - The gift hasn't been given to Bob, isn't it?   

      Best regards,

      Camille    

  
Clive  #366515  Thu, 17 May 07 02:14 PM

Hi,

Yes, that's right.

Clive

  
Anonymous  #366788  Thu, 17 May 07 10:26 PM

Hi, Clive!

     Thanks for your help. And sorry for some mistakes (because I 'm still in the middle of my English course). For example I should have said: "...but if I didn't misunderstand your explanation , there's no problem if..."

     Best regards,

        Camille

  
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