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I came across these sentences, though my teacher did explain it,but i didn't quite understand it.

1) I couldn't deny__plausible excuses.

a) him having made c) that he has done

b) he has made d) his having made

the answer is D,of course.But how about C,i wonder,any problem with ''that clause' after deny?

2)It is ___ that I am afraid of.

a) him c) hers father

b) he d) John father

the answer is B. I still don't know why,why not A??,but if i have a choice,i will choose B,cause it makes more sense than A,but A seems to be more grammartically correct than B:(,plz explain me why?

thank you

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

1) I couldn't deny__plausible excuses.

a) him having made c) that he has done

b) he has made d) his having made

the answer is D,of course.But how about C,i wonder,any problem with ''that clause' after deny? Yes, you don't 'do an excuse', so C is wrong. B is also possible, and probably more commonly spoken, although D is more stylish.

2)It is ___ that I am afraid of.

a) him c) hers father

b) he d) John father

the answer is B. I still don't know why,why not A?? That's a tricky question, even for native speakers. Here's my opinion. In informal English, for example ordinary conversations, we normally say A. In very formal English, we say B. However, very often I think we avoid the problem of having to choose by saying it another way. eg

Who's there? It's Clive (instead of 'I').

Or He's the one I am afraid of. (This is a very common way to say it)

If you use B, change 'that' to 'who'.

Other people may offer you a different interpretation.

Best wishes, Clive

Philip · Answer

Green89I came across these sentences, though my teacher did explain it,but i didn't quite understand it.

1) I couldn't deny__plausible excuses.

a) him having made c) that he has done

b) he has made d) his having made Correct!

the answer is D,of course.But how about C,i wonder,any problem with ''that clause' after deny? It wouldn't be my choice.

2)It is ___ that I am afraid of.

a) him c) hers father

b) he correct! d) John father

the answer is B. I still don't know why,why not A??,but if i have a choice,i will choose B,cause it makes more sense than A,but A seems to be more grammartically correct than B:(,plz explain me why?

thank you

It is he....he is the complement of it (nominative or subjective case, which must agree with the verb 'to be'. Does this help?

Davkett · Answer

Clive
1) I couldn't deny__plausible excuses.

a) him having made c) that he has done

b) he has made d) his having made

B is also possible, and probably more commonly spoken

If B, I think I'd want to add 'that': 'I couldn't deny that he has made plausible excuses.'

Green89 · Answer

thank all:)

but how about this sentence:

is it me you are looking for?

and

It is I who have allergies

Green89 · Answer

by the way,Clive,you wrote:

If you use B, change 'that' to 'who'

I don't quite understand,that or who,here ,is relative pronouns,is there any difference between them?

can you explain it to me?

thankyou

Clive · Answer

Hi Green,

is it me you are looking for? Well, to be consistent with what I suggested earlier, I'd say this. In informal and everyday English, say 'me'. In formal English, say 'I'. Very often, we will use another construction, like Am I the one you are looking for?, which avoids the problem.

It is I who have allergies Same comment as above. Very often, we'd say instead something like I'm the one who has allergies.

by the way,Clive,you wrote: If you use It is _he_ that I am afraid of change 'that' to 'who' I guess whether 'that' or 'who' sounds better is a question of style, either would be OK. Actually, if you want to write very formal English, you should use 'whom', although in everyday English this is not usually said.

Best wishes again, Clive

Green89 · Answer

thank you,Clive

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