Search results for 'tag:Nouns tag:Subjunctives' matching tags 'Nouns' and 'Subjunctives'

Re: Suggest + "not do" - verb pattern

Tanit — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 07:15:00 GMT

CalifJim
But suggest also means bring to mind, and this is the meaning in your example sentences, so the grammatical structures for 'advisory' suggest don't apply. Issues of availability cannot give advice! So all you need is a that clause or a noun -- without any of those subjunctives!

Gosh! I cannot believe I got stuck on this one!!!

Thank you very much to both of you, CJ and YC.

Re: Suggest + "not do" - verb pattern

YoungCalifornian — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:50:46 GMT

But suggest also means bring to mind, and this is the meaning in your example sentences, so the grammatical structures for 'advisory' suggest don't apply. Issues of availability cannot give advice! So all you need is a that clause or a noun -- without any of those subjunctives!

Of course! I think I got lost in my own babbling and couldn't shift paradigms for those last three examples even though I knew they sounded awkward. Also, it was late at night for me...

Re: Suggest + "not do" - verb pattern

CalifJim — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:34:30 GMT

For suggest as give advice:

I [suggest / advise] (that) he do something. (affirmative pattern)

I [suggest / advise] (that) he not do something. (negative pattern)

But suggest also means bring to mind, and this is the meaning in your example sentences, so the grammatical structures for 'advisory' suggest don't apply. Issues of availability cannot give advice! So all you need is a that clause or a noun -- without any of those subjunctives!

Issues of availability ... suggested that members of the scientific committee might not need to be interviewed.

Issues of availability ... suggested a course of action in which members of the scientific community would not need to be interviewed.

Issues of availability ... suggested a research methodology by which interviews with members of the scientific community could be avoided.

Re: Suggest + "not do" - verb pattern

YoungCalifornian — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:33:12 GMT

Tanit
But I'm stuck with a sentence where "to do" is replaced by "not to do":

    a1) I suggest not doing X.                         (I reckon this is fine)
    a2) I suggest not to do X.                          (???)
    b1) I suggest [that] Y shouldn't do X.         (I reckon this is fine)
    b2) I suggest [that] Y [not do | don't] X.      (this sounds terribly bad!)

Your questions stem from the use of the mandative subjunctive, which arises in turn from the use of the verb "to suggest." However, you've complicated things by using the complicated predicate "to do X" in your sentences' subordinate clauses. I'm assuming that "Y" always represents a personal pronoun (or proper noun), but "X" could be either a demonstrative pronoun (or regular noun in certain cases) or a verb depending on your meaning.

a1) This construction is fine if "X" is a demonstrative pronoun, but incorrect if represents a verb.

a2) This construction is incorrect. If "X" is a demonstrative pronoun, the verb "to do" must be changed from the infinitive to the subjunctive and a personal pronoun added so that the sentence reads I suggest Y not do X. This makes the subordinate clause a content clause, which means that the word "that" could be added as you've done in example b2). The sentence will not work at all if "X" is a verb.

b1) While this construction is not grammatically incorrect, it can sound too passive when "suggest" and "should" are in close proximity. Anyway, that's assuming that "X" is once again a demonstrative pronoun. This construction will not work if "X" is a verb.

b2) It may not seem like it, but switching between "not do" or "don't" (i.e. "do not" ) dramatically changes this sentence. They cannot be used interchangably in this context. As I mentioned above, the "not do" construction works fine if "X" is a demonstrative pronoun. However, if "X" is a (subjunctive) verb then "do not" or "don't" (or does not/doesn't for singular third person pronouns) must be used.

I apologize if this sounds complicated, but it's a result of using an auxiliary verb in your example predicates. If you replace "to do X" with a simpler verb it would probably be clearer. Basically, your two options are to follow the verb "to suggest" with either a gerund or the subjunctive. Either way, the word "not" would precede the dependent verb should you choose to make it negative. Looking ahead, I've used the verb "to interview" in an example of each construction.

Gerund: I suggest (not) interviewing...
Subjunctive: I suggest (that) he (not) interview...

Here's the sentence I'm trying to write (it's for a research paper):

1. "Issues of availability, together with constraints on time and scope of the research, suggested not interviewing any member of the scientific committee."
2. "Issues of availability, together with constraints on time and scope of the research, suggested not to interview any member of the scientific committee."
3. "Issues of availability, together with constraints on time and scope of the research, suggested that no member of the scientific committee should be interviewed."

I'd go for no. 1 (no. 3 seems to carry a different meaning ... or am I wrong?), but I am not sure about that. What do you think?
I'm also trying (with little, if any, success) to work out the general pattern.

Both the first and third examples work. The first is the gerund construction, the third is the subjunctive construction. The second is incorrect. However, despite being technically correct, both the first and third examples still sound awkward. Ultimately, I think this is because it sounds strange for "issues" to suggest something directly. Typically they would suggest something to someone. For instance, I think that "Issues of availability... suggest not interviewing any member of the scientific committee to me" or "Issues of availability... suggest to me that no member of the scientific committee should be interviewed" both sound better.

I MADE AN EXERCISE BUT I'M NOT SURE WITH ANSWERS, CAN ANYONE CHECK IT?

lucaslucas — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 09:49:05 GMT

Structure reconstruction. ( dots mean that this part of sentence is not changed)

Reconstruct the following sentences (or pairs of sentences) in such a way that they are as similar as possible in meaning to the ones printed before them. Make all necessary alteraction. Use the info provided in the brackets.

1. Freda phoned Jack last night. (cleft sentence with emphasis on last night)

It was last night that Freda phoned Jack.

2. We didnât complain to the waiter about the food because we didnât want to embarrass our friends. (adverbial clause with so as)

We didn't ........... waiter so as not to embarass......

3. There are difficulties that must be surmounted before any agreement can be reached. ( non-finite clause)

There are difficulties to be surmounted.............

4. He didnât even phone to let me know he was not coming. This made me very angry. ( noun clause)

The fact that he didn't........ coming made me very angry.

5. We came within sight of Everest. Its summit has attracted so many climbers. ( relative clause)

We...... Everest, whose.....

6. The railway attendant assumes the train has been running too slow for the last 20 minutes. ( non-finite in passive structure)

this i just dont know how to change :/ maybe: That the train had been running too slow for the previous 20 minutes the railway attendant assumed.

7. A group of MPâs has advocated that the Government should set up a special commission of inquiry. ( gerundial structure)

A group.................Government setting up..........

8. He is to do the task. I recommend it. (subjunctive)

I recommend he to do the task.

9. Several people went to Paris this spring. None of them complained about the hotel. ( relative clause)

Several people, none of whom......hotel, went............spring

10. He tore open the letter and found a cheque for Å100 in it. (non-finite clause)

He .. letter finding..

11. What if you lose the ticket you have. Have you got enough money to buy another one? (suppose)

idk here but maybe: Suppose that you lose the ticket, have you got enough money to buy another one?

12. She is only crying because some soap went into her eye while her mother was washing her hair. ( passive voice)

here idk also but lets try: She was only crying because some soap went into her eye when her hair was being washed.

13. Penicillin was discovered in 1928. It helped to save many lives in World War II. (conditional- use but for)

i bet im wrong here: But for penicilin discovery in 1928 many lives would not have been saved in WWII.

14. We never thought he was that sort of fellow. (emphasis)

he i have serious doubts also: That he that sort of fellow was we never thought.

15. What a tasty cake this is! My neighbours commented. (reported speech)

My neighbours commented that what a tasty cake that was.

16. He lost two games early in the tournament. Despite this, however, he managed to carry off the championshim. ( co0ordinate relative clause)

He lost..tournament, despite which, however, he..

CAN YOU PLEASE CHECK MY ANSWERS?

can u guys help me with it? can you check my answers? please

lucaslucas — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:22:10 GMT

I tried to solve this lil test but i couldnt figure out all answers. Would you be so kind and help me with it? I have no answer key for it so I can't compare my answers with correct ones and im not sure of my answers :( I hope that u'll find some time to help :)

read the following text and cross out or circle unnecessary words. In each line there is one such word.

The prince of Walesâs determination to give up lunch for Lent shows out an admirable out

strength of good will, but is physiologically unsound. The metabolism of humans has has

evolved round so that we are omnivorous. It may sound unlikely, but we have a digestive round

system more closely related one to that of rats and pigs than carnivorous lions and one

wolves. People should have a hard hearty breakfast containing plenty of complex starches, hard

such as a porridge and cereals, together with some protein but not too much fat a

or highly refined sugar adding. Lunch is the safest meal in which to take the daily to?

allowance of fats and fruit juices. Most people need it to eat at midday because without it

sustenance at that short time even the most even-tempered can become difficult and even

demanding task. The balance is difficult â no lunch and the mood becomes vulnerable but the? ( idk which one, mayb e its not the :/)

too much heavy a lunch will induce deep somnolence a couple of hours later. When you 1st a

are starving as the metabolism slows down and the next meal is therefore treated by the as

body as though every other calorie could be life-saving and thatâs why fat is stored up. though

The old my advice to have a good, Followed in due course by light lunch and my

supper, is no better both for the psyche and physique than eating once a day like a tiger. no

Identify and correct mistakes. ( some sentences are correct , 5 if i remember well )

He a)warned us b)not to go on feet across the park alone c)as people d)had been

mugged there. b- by foot

It a)must be used in b)a well-ventilated room. C) Used otherwise it d)could be harmful. b- just cross out a

3. Warships also served as cargo a)ship until b)the 1600âs when they c)took on a d)more specialized military role. a- ships

4. The works a)of Thomas Eakins, an American b)realist of the 1800âs were notable for c)its vitality and painstaking detail. correct?

5. Princess Diana a)would have liked to b)have been there but she c)wasnât able to come d)to Windsor. corect?

6. a)A mecca for b)nature watchers, this bay contains a c)two-miles stretch of beach literally d)covered in animals and birds. c- two-mile

7. When a client a)approaches the company, whether he b)be a King or an ordinary member of the public, the c)companyâs team of designers d)sets to work. b- is

8. a)Fearing that the police b)wouldnât recognize him he never c)went out d)in daylight. b- would

9. a)Not knowing the language and b)having not friends in the town, he c)found it hard to give up d)work

b- not having

10. The day a) being fine b)Tom and I decided c)to go d)swimming.

correct?

11. He was a)arousing b)by the crash and c)client d)to his feet. a- aroused

12. a)Having bitten twice, the postman refused b)to deliver our letters c)unless we chained our dog d)up

a- having been bitten

13. You donât care a)about science fiction, b)do you? c)Oh yes, I like d)it.

correct?

14. The kidnappers a)threatened him b)to kill his daughter if he c)didnât pay the ransom d)at once.

a- threatened( just w/o him)

15. I said that if he a)could lend me b)the money I c)neednât go to d)the bank.

correct?

Structure reconstruction. ( dots mean that this part of sentence is not changed)

Freda phoned Jack last night. (cleft sentence with emphasis on last nigh)

It was last night that Freda phoned Jack.

We didnât complain to the waiter about the food because we didnât want to embarrass our friends. (adverbial clause with so as)

We.........food so as not to embarass............

3. There are difficulties that must be surmounted before any agreement can be reached. ( non-finite clause)

There are difficulties to be surmounted.............

He didnât even phone to let me know he was not coming. This made me very angry. ( noun clause)

The fact that he didn't........ coming made me very angry.

We came within sight of Everest. Its summit has attracted so many climbers. ( relative clause)

We...... Everest, whose.....

The railway attendant assumes the train has been running too slow for the last 20 minutes. ( non-finite in passive structure)

this i just dont know how to change :/ maybe: That the train had been running too slow for the previous 20 minutes the railway attendant assumed.

A group of MPâs has advocated that the Government should set up a special commission of inquiry. ( gerundial structure)

A group.................Government setting up..........

He is to do the task. I recommend it. (subjunctive)

I recommend he to do the task.

Several people went to Paris this spring. None of them complained about the hotel. ( relative clause)

Several people, none of whom......hotel, went............spring

10. He tore open the letter and found a cheque for Å100 in it. (non0finite clause)

He ..... letter finding.....

11. What if you lose the ticket you have. Have you got enough money to buy another one? (suppose)

idk here but maybe: Suppose that you lose the ticket, have you got enough money to buy another one?

12. She is only crying because some soap went into her eye while her mother was washing her hair. ( passive voice)

here idk also but lets try: She was only crying because some soap went into her eye when her hair was being washed.

13. Penicillin was discovered in 1928. It helped to save many lives in World War II. (conditional- use but for)

i bet im wrong here: But for penicilin discovery in 1928 many lives would not have been saved in WWII.

14. We never thought he was that sort of fellow. (emphasis)

he i have serious doubts also: That he that sort of fellow was we never thought.

What a tasty cake this is! My neighbours commented. (reported speech)

My neighbours commented that what a tasty cake that was.

He lost two games early in the tournament. Despite this, however, he managed to carry off the championshim. ( co0ordinate relative clause)

He lost.........tournament, despite which, however, he.............

Transformations. Rewrite each sentence starting as shown so that the meaning stays the same. Beginnings are provided.

Oliver asked Jenny why she hadnât taken part in the race the previsions day.

âWhyâ¦..haven't you taken part in the race yesterday â Oliver asked Jenny.

But for Helen, the play would be a flep.

Wereâ¦.The play be a flop if not Helen.

We still donât know what has happened to all the missing passengers.

We still have not accountedâ¦what to all the missing passengers has happened.

âShall I carry that bag for you, John?â said Paul.

Paulineâ¦.asked John if he should carry that bag for her.

It is not always easy to overcome difficulties.

Toâ¦overcome difficulties is not always easy

Lobster is a new experience for me.

Itâs the firstâ¦time I have a lobster.

Mary spends all her money on sweets, which is unwise.

Itâs â¦.unwise for Mary to spend all her money on sweets.

Although he studied hard, he failed the exam.

In spiteâ¦of his studying hard, he failed the exam.

We little understand the problem he has had.

Littleâ¦did we understand the problem he has had.

He always cheats in examinations which is dishonest.

Howâ¦he always cheats on examinations is dishonest.

Although it is sunny today, it may still rain tomorrow.

Sunnyâ¦as today is it may still rain tomorrow.

I met Mary as soon as I left home.

I had no soonerâ¦left home than I met mary.

His words may be sincere. However, I donât think he is telling whole truth.

Hovewerâ¦sincere his words may be, i don't think....

Her leg hurt so much that she fainted.

Suchâ¦did her leg hurt that she fainted.

You mustnât let strangers in when you are alone.

On noâ¦account must you let strangers when you are alone.

A single could appeared in the sky.

Inâ¦the sky should a single appear.

If you tell her my secret, Ill never speak to you again.

Tellâ¦her my secret and I'll never speak to you again.

The house is too big for me to live there on my own.

It is tooâ¦.big a house to live on my own.

Although I tried very hard I couldnât make them see my point of view.

No matterâ¦.how hard did i try I couldn't make them see my point of view.

I Believed you were the murderer because of this clue.

This clue ledâ¦..me to the believing that you were the murderer.

Joe doesnât like it when people treat him like a child.

Joe resentsâ¦ being treated like a child.

I wish I hadnât heard that.

Iâd rather youâ¦..did not say that.

May the President live a long time.

Longâ¦live the president

The Inspector Collins said they believed John was living in Malta at that time.

here idk the beggining because of poor copy, coz i mentioned before that Ive retyped all on my laptop, but i think it should start from John.... is believed to live in Malta at that time. i bet I messed sth up.

Re: Grammar rules - check for correctness - a kind teacher please :)

Angle1 — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:23:55 GMT

Some another issues to discuss

I saw your old friend, him whom you pointed out at the last meeting

Him whom >> whom

Objective pronoun is redundand, we need only relative pronou

I really donÂ´t know if there is a mistake in this sentence
She flouts her mink coat whenever she goes with us so that we will think she is very wealthy

They threated him like he was their own son

Like >>> as if we have a verb in a comparative sentence, we must use as instead of like

He was >> he were - we need a subjunctive here, but I cannot explain why

Many a box of bananas have been sent to Europe

Many a box + has / many boxes + have

What kind of these structures is commonly used

The two last comeptitors, who had to lose or gain the most were affected deeply

Who had to lose or gain the most >> who had the most to lose or gain

How to explain it? Is this

Were affected deeply >> were deeply affected â the adverb determines the adjective

His serious thoughts were bent irrevocable

Bent irrevocable >> bent irrevocably â But how to explain it??

I think that is everything what I need to to discuss

If you want to discuss only few examples, no problem - I would be glad if you would do anything. Thank you very much for your help

Re: suggest+noun clause in the simple present tense?

Marius Hancu — Wed, 07 May 2008 00:44:26 GMT

The subjunctive mood forms:

should sell

and

sell

are the formal ones.

Sells is informal.

Re: suggest+noun clause in the simple present tense?

MrPedantic — Tue, 06 May 2008 07:00:02 GMT

I'm not familiar with the site; but the writer may well be of BrE origin.

(In BrE, you could use "sells", "should sell", or the subjunctive "sell". The last option has become more popular in the last two decades, in BrE, in contexts where "should sell" would once have been predominant.)

MrP

Re: Can I change from "If I were him" to "Were I him"? I thought it was a little awkward...

Mister Micawber — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:55:42 GMT

.
Yes, I think so, but I am muddled by my preference for If I were he, Were I he -- as long as you wish to use the more formal subjunctive, I would use the seemingly more formal nominative pronoun. Informal: If I was him...