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Anonymous Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

Can anyone settle an argument regarding American grammar?

Hi all. I hope someone can help settle an argument for me please.

I'm an Australian currently working for a Dutch company in the Netherlands. We are marketing a software product internationally and whenever we have a stand at a conference or trade fair, we have a large sign with the message:

"Are you sure that the financial results you present your shareholders are correct?"

Now I think that it's embarassing to the company if we have signs which are grammatically incorrect, and I've had a long debate with the person responsible. He tells me that he's 100% sure that it is correct American English and that as an Aussie I'm not in a position to question him.

So are there any American English speakers out there how can tell me whether it's grammatically correct or not?

Many thanks in advance,

Neil
  

Top answer

OK I'm a Brit but I agree with you. the financial results you present to your shareholders.... the financial results you present your shareholders with...

— Nona the brit

  • OK I'm a Brit but I agree with you.
  • the financial results you present to your shareholders....
  • the financial results you present your shareholders with...
  • Is it really different in American English?
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15 Answers
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OK I'm a Brit but I agree with you. It should be either

...the financial results you present to your shareholders....

or

...the financial results you present your shareholders with...

Is it really different in American English?
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At first I was looking at this like it's a trick question, wonderingi what part you think incorrect... but then I found it.

I personally think that that "to your shareholders" is more natural. What's there is not horrible, but it's not what I'd write. Is that what you meant?

(By the way, I think ANYONE is in a position to question. That's why we have editors and proofreade
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AnonymousHi all. I hope someone can help settle an argument for me please.

I'm an Australian currently working for a Dutch company in the Netherlands. We are marketing a software product internationally and whenever we have a stand at a conference or trade fair, we have a large sign with the message:

"Are you sure that the financial results you present y
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Thanks Nona and GG, and thanks for not pointing out the error in my post ('how' instead of 'who'). It's kind of intimidating posting on a forum like this - I feel like every word is under a microscope.

Anyway, Nona said exactly what I said to the guy concerned. As far as I know you can either present something to someone or present someone with something. So either 't
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I found an interesting site which touches on this issue. I am still looking it over, but here it is:

http://www.orlapubs.com/AL/L83B.html

The section starts with, "Help, even when negated
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I suppose much depends on whether the visitors to the trade fair are more likely to speak BrE or AmE.

But since most BrE-speakers will think it incorrect as it stands, and since most AmE-speakers will accept "present to", it seems safer to change it to the latter.

MrP
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Thanks again guys. I'm surprised to find that it is correct AE, in which case I guess you can say, "I presented the shareholders the results" and omit 'with' completely. Anyway I won't bother pursuing it. About 20-30% of our presentations are in the US, and for others I guess it's a fairly trivial mistake.

Wwwdotcom, I checked that link but it seems to be discussing cases where 'to' prece
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At most, it sounds acceptable to me; however, "to your" sounds better.
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I agree with Thethenothere123. It's acceptable, but "to your" would definitely be better and more grammatically correct.
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Tell your guy that if he changes "present" to "provide," which doesn't need the to, you'll stop bothering him about the preposition.
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