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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
Learning
Doubt
Dear friends, I have a doubt concerning the last part of this sentence:
"It's the type of question usually made by people who have no feeling for the language, whether or not they be native speakers of English."
Why not: whether or not they "are" native speakers of English.
I'd always write "they are" never "they be", even not being sure about the difference...
Thanks,
Rafael
(Brasil)
"It's the type of question usually made by people who have no feeling for the language, whether or not they be native speakers of English."
Why not: whether or not they "are" native speakers of English.
I'd always write "they are" never "they be", even not being sure about the difference...
Thanks,
Rafael
(Brasil)
Top answer
[nq:1]Dear friends, I have a doubt concerning the last part of this sentence: "It's the type of question usually made ... "are" native speakers of English. [/nq] The latter is what we would call a subjunctive.
- [nq:1]Dear friends, I have a doubt concerning the last part of this sentence: "It's the type of question usually made ...
- "are" native speakers of English.
- [/nq] The latter is what we would call a subjunctive.
- Using the indicative "are" here would also be correct, although I'd rephrase it "...
- whether they are native speakers of English or not".
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5 Answers
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[nq:1]Dear friends, I have a doubt concerning the last part of this sentence: "It's the type of question usually made ... "are" native speakers of English. I'd always write "they are" never "they be", even not being sure about the difference...[/nq]
The latter is what we would call a subjunctive.
Using the indicative "are" here would also be correct, although I'd rephrase it "... whether t
The latter is what we would call a subjunctive.
Using the indicative "are" here would also be correct, although I'd rephrase it "... whether t
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[nq:2]Dear friends, I have a doubt concerning the last part ... never "they be", even not being sure about the difference...[/nq]
[nq:1]The latter is what we would call a subjunctive. Using the indicative "are" here would also be correct, although I'd ... significant difference in meaning although I would regard the use of the subjunctive structure as more formal. Regards, Einde O'Callaghan[/n
[nq:1]The latter is what we would call a subjunctive. Using the indicative "are" here would also be correct, although I'd ... significant difference in meaning although I would regard the use of the subjunctive structure as more formal. Regards, Einde O'Callaghan[/n
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[nq:2]The latter is what we would call a subjunctive. Using ... of the subjunctive structure as more formal. Regards, Einde O'Callaghan[/nq]
[nq:1]Speaking of this: Einde, in your view, is this structure used more in US or UK English? There's a real problem about teaching the subjunctive here in Greece, which is why I ask.[/nq]
I think the subjunctive is in general more common in American
[nq:1]Speaking of this: Einde, in your view, is this structure used more in US or UK English? There's a real problem about teaching the subjunctive here in Greece, which is why I ask.[/nq]
I think the subjunctive is in general more common in American
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Thank you all... does anyone know where I can find more about this subject?
Thanks...
Thanks...
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[nq:1]Thank you all... does anyone know where I can find more about this subject?[/nq]
Probably in any advanced grammar book.
Regards, Einde O'Callaghan
Probably in any advanced grammar book.
Regards, Einde O'Callaghan
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