I'd rather...

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WesternAmerican

#404899 Wed, 15 Aug 07 01:47 PM

Hi, look:
Charlie: Have you told Kev about moving out?
John: No, I haven't, and I'd rather that you....
John doens't want that Charlie will tell Kev about his sudden decision to leave the house.
1) don't (tell him)either
2) won't (tell him)either
3) don't (tell him), too

Which of the aforementioned choices should be replaced by the greyed dots? Is more than one possible answer?
Please elaborate! Thank you!

WesternAmerican

Joined on Wed, Jun 6 2007

Israel

Full Member (393)

I will REALLY appreciate any corrections to my posts, whether it be grammar, glossary, or just something that could elevate my style. Thank you.

Philip

#404940 Wed, 15 Aug 07 04:12 PM

WesternAmerican wrote:
Hi, look:
Charlie: Have you told Kev about moving out?
John: No, I haven't, and I'd rather that you....
John doens't want that Charlie will tell Kev about his sudden decision to leave the house.
1) don't (tell him)either
2) won't (tell him)either
3) don't (tell him), too

Which of the aforementioned choices should be replaced by the greyed dots? Is more than one possible answer?
Please elaborate! Thank you!

3) is wrong, because we use 'too' after an affirmative; 2) doesn't work very well, but it's possible; 1) is the only one I would use [but I would probably just say 'not either', omitting the auxiliary as well as the verb].

Philip

Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005

USA Pacific Northwest (Seattle)

Veteran Member (6,181)

At reise er at leve! - H. C. Andersen

Auxiliaries, Verbs

CalifJim

#405058 Wed, 15 Aug 07 07:59 PM

John doesn't want ~~that Charlie will~~ tell Kev about his decision ...
John doesn't want Charlie to tell Kev about his decision ...

No, I haven't, and I'd rather that you don't/didn't either.

Negatives go with either, not with too.

CJ

CalifJim

Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004

California

Veteran Member (16,978)

"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche

Negatives

Anonymous

#413420 Mon, 03 Sep 07 04:02 AM

The correct response would be ¨I´d rather you didn´t either.¨

For a more complete explanation go to www.smic.be/smic5022/Preference2.html

Also, please note that your sentence ¨John doesn´t want that Charlie will tell Kev about his sudden decision to leave the house.¨ should read, ¨John doesn´t want Charlie to tell Kev about his sudden decision to leave the house.¨

Hope this helps!

Anonymous