0
Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Be obliged to do
Hello.
Do you think that the following sentences are acceptable?
a. Students were obliged by the professor to take the course.
b. Mary was obliged by the boss to stay in a job that she hated.
Thank you for your judgement.
Do you think that the following sentences are acceptable?
a. Students were obliged by the professor to take the course.
b. Mary was obliged by the boss to stay in a job that she hated.
Thank you for your judgement.
Top answer
Yes, they sound fine for be obliged to = be required to .
- Yes, they sound fine for be obliged to = be required to .
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
12 Answers
0
0
Thank you for your judgement.
One of my informants says that the following sentence is not quite right because it is not an action that her boss could cause. That is, it is not good to add "by her boss".
She was obliged to resign by her boss.
Why are there cases where by phrases are not allowed?
One of my informants says that the following sentence is not quite right because it is not an action that her boss could cause. That is, it is not good to add "by her boss".
She was obliged to resign by her boss.
Why are there cases where by phrases are not allowed?
00
This is a common mistake.
You can be obliged to do something but you cannot be obliged by someone to do something. The obligation does come from someone or something outside of yourself but being obliged refers only to the feeling in yourself.
A better way would be to use required by ie Students were required by the professor...
Hope that helps!
Wi
You can be obliged to do something but you cannot be obliged by someone to do something. The obligation does come from someone or something outside of yourself but being obliged refers only to the feeling in yourself.
A better way would be to use required by ie Students were required by the professor...
Hope that helps!
Wi
00
It seems like a prescriptive chestnut to me. I think you can get away with it with no great complaint nowadays.
There is still no consensus over the issue of a Syrian military withdrawal from Lebanon — which the Christian MPs have been obliged by their militia leaders and by General Michel Aoun to discuss, although the Muslims are reluctant to debate the topic at pre
There is still no consensus over the issue of a Syrian military withdrawal from Lebanon — which the Christian MPs have been obliged by their militia leaders and by General Michel Aoun to discuss, although the Muslims are reluctant to debate the topic at pre
00
Thank you for giving me examples.
I think that compared with by phrase having human nouns, by phrase containing inaimate nouns is likely to be used with "be obliged to do".
ex. The minister is obliged by law to report at least once every six months.
Am I right?
I think that compared with by phrase having human nouns, by phrase containing inaimate nouns is likely to be used with "be obliged to do".
ex. The minister is obliged by law to report at least once every six months.
Am I right?
00
Yes, that is true. It is odd that a law can compel you to do something but a person cannot, eh? That is why I suspect that it is a prescription.
00
Thank you.
In this point, "oblige" is similar to "cause".
"Cause" also tends not to take human subjects.
Usulally, "cause" is used with inanimate nouns.
Her behaviour caused me to laugh.
In this point, "oblige" is similar to "cause".
"Cause" also tends not to take human subjects.
Usulally, "cause" is used with inanimate nouns.
Her behaviour caused me to laugh.
00
However, 'She makes me laugh' is much, much more common.
(Incidentally, I still cannot find any reputable reference to the rule that 'obliged by' cannot be followed by a person. Strunk & White do not mention it, nor do Modern English Usage (Fowler), the M-W Dictionary of English Usage, or on-line dictionaries.)
(Incidentally, I still cannot find any reputable reference to the rule that 'obliged by' cannot be followed by a person. Strunk & White do not mention it, nor do Modern English Usage (Fowler), the M-W Dictionary of English Usage, or on-line dictionaries.)
00
Thank you for your reply.
I hope that you find a reference book.
If you find it, please tell me
It must b
I hope that you find a reference book.
If you find it, please tell me
It must b
00
LDOCE says that "No one can oblige you to stay in a job that you hate." is not correct.
Do you agree with it?
Do you agree with it?
0
Related Questions