Implied subject

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Anonymous

#133908 Sun, 04 Sep 05 09:46 PM

Can anyone tell me if, in formal written English, implied pronouns are grammatically correct? Example: Hope that helps. I is implied, as in,"I hope that helps" but is it correct. Not in informal English but in formal written English.

Thanks

Anonymous

Nouns, Pronouns

Philip

#133977 Mon, 05 Sep 05 01:57 AM

Anonymous wrote:

Can anyone tell me if, in formal written English, implied pronouns are grammatically correct? Example: Hope that helps. I is implied, as in,"I hope that helps" but is it correct. Not in informal English but in formal written English.

Thanks

I think it is too informal for good writing. I'm trying to think of an example where a sentence with an implied subject would be acceptable, besides in an imperative. Others can help me out here?

Philip

Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005

USA Pacific Northwest (Seattle)

Veteran Member (6,181)

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

Nouns, Pronouns

rvw

#134052 Mon, 05 Sep 05 09:12 AM

I agree with Philip that the use of an implied pronoun is less than choice written English. However some sentences lacking verbs and nouns or pronouns, called verbless sentences, are considered choice:

-To all intents and purposes, none.
-Not anywhere near good enough to meet the situation.
-Probably so.
-Music to an author's ears, no doubt, and remembered this quarter century.
-Conversational awareness.
-But not the same.

The above were from a single issue of Harper's Magazine (September, 1950).

(Examples from Understanding Grammar by Paul Roberts.)

It seems that omitting just the pronoun is a faux paus, but omitting more is "choice". Go figure.

rvw