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Anonymous Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

clause problem

Hi,

The following is a phrase from a phrase website. Would I be correct, though, that 'constitute' should read 'constitutes'
because the commas that separate 'and to feel'? Indeed if there were no commas, would 'constitute' be acceptable?

Thanks

'To think, and to feel, constitute the two grand divisions of men of genius - the men of reasoning and the men of imagination.'
  

Top answer

The writer exlicitly states he/she is talking about two things afterwards, so the "and to feel" is not an afterthought or a "not really included subject" subject element. I think these commas are given as guidance on how to read this passage outloud, with a longer than usual pause represented by the commas. )

— BarbaraPA

  • The writer exlicitly states he/she is talking about two things afterwards, so the "and to feel" is not an afterthought or a "not really included subject" subject element.
  • I think these commas are given as guidance on how to read this passage outloud, with a longer than usual pause represented by the commas.
  • )
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2 Answers
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The writer exlicitly states he/she is talking about two things afterwards, so the "and to feel" is not an afterthought or a "not really included subject" subject element. I think these commas are given as guidance on how to read this passage outloud, with a longer than usual pause represented by the commas. (However, I would replace that hyphen-serving-as-dash with a colon, and giving the importan
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AnonymousHi,

The following is a phrase from a phrase website. Would I be correct, though, that 'constitute' should read 'constitutes'
because the commas that separate 'and to feel'? Indeed if there were no commas, would 'constitute' be acceptable?

Thanks

'To think, and to feel, constitute the two grand divisions of men of genius - the men o
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