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Hi all:I need some help.Here is a controversial question from a national exam in Turkey:New York City .............. the first US ban on large-size sodas and other sugary drinks ............... in restaurants and other eateries.Most debated answers (one of them is true of course)A) has approved/being soldB) approved/to be soldIf both of them are suitable, then this question should be cancelled by the authorities. What do you think?   Thank you.

Avangi · Accepted Answer

In my opinion, only A is correct.

Since there's no reference to time in the example, "approved" (simple past) and "has approved" (present perfect) are equally possible.
So it comes down to "being sold" vs "to be sold."

I read it as "now being sold."

They passed a law prohibiting something which is now being done.

Perhaps I'm wrong. Perhaps I'm reading into this my personal knowledge that this is a very current event.

The choice of "has approved" would certainly make it current.

On the other hand, if the law was passed five years ago, we'd use (B) approved.

Hmmm, I'm weakening!

We also have the fact that "drinks being sold" is ambiguous.
The drinks being sold at that stand are polluted. This is present tense.
We should have prevented those drinks [from] being sold.
There was a ban on those drinks being sold. (ambiguous)

(This is very advanced stuff!)
There is/was a ban on those drinks! (reply) Which drinks? (answer) The ones being sold./ The ones to be sold.

I'm going to come down on the side of those who say that both A & B are acceptable.

<< New York City approved the first US ban on large-size sodas and other sugary drinks to be sold in restaurants. >>
"To be sold" answers the question, "Which drinks?" "Drinks which are/were intended to be sold in restaurants."

Clive · Answer

Hi,

How is the task worded?
eg Pick the best answer.
eg Pick the correct answer.
eg Pick an answer that has correct grammar.
eg Pick the most natural answer.
eg Pick the true answer.

Note that 'true' is not the same as 'correct grammar'.
eg Clive won the Nobel Prize.for Grammar is correct grammar, but unfortunately not true.

Clive

Fivejedjon · Answer

Neither of the choices appears very good to me.

Anonymous · Answer

Question is:

Find the suitable word or phrase for blank parts. (not best answer only the suitable one)

What do you think now Clive?

Thanks

Avangi · Answer

What are the other choices, Anon?  (The ones you did not list?)

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Question is:
Find the suitable word or phrase for blank parts. (not best answer only the suitable one)
'The suitable . . . ' implies that there is only one that is considered suitable by the examiners.
In addition, 'suitable' is a deliberately vague word that can encompass not only grammar and naturalness but also truth..

In short, you have to choose the answer that the examiner likes best.
To me, that is clearly A.
For B, you have to think up a rather odd scenario in which NYC bans something that is not yet being sold.

In addition, in reality, such drinks were sold for years in NYC, before the ban. They were being sold at the time they were banned.

Clive

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks for all your possible answers.  <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

Avangi · Answer

CliveFor B, you have to think up a rather odd scenario in which NYC bans something that is not yet being sold.

I find the being verb to be more versatile.
Sugary drinks in large containers are being manufactured to be sold in restaurants all over the world.
Can't this mean "for the purpose of being sold?" Does it have to refer to the future?
To me, this describes a category of drinks which has existed (as you say) for years.
Drinks in this category may no longer be offered for sale in New York restaurants.

<< New York City approved the first US ban on large-size sodas and other sugary drinks to be sold in restaurants. >>

A ban on something is open to interpretation. I'm sure the law is very specific, but we're talking about the grammar of a news item. It doesn't say "ban on the sale of etc." It says "ban on [certain] drinks."

Clive · Answer

Hi Avangi,

I see your point.
But it seems to me that A is the more straightforward choice, and that B requires a bit more mental effort..

If you were the student asked in the test to 'Find the suitable' answer, what would your answer be?

Clive

Arclyte · Answer

I would choose B as it seems the clearest option.  I agree with Avangi that A's "being sold" makes it a bit more ambiguous and B's 'to be sold' makes it clearer.  That said, if I were to read it in a news report or hear someone telling it I would accept either answer as intelligible and 'correct'.  It seems pedantic to me to choose between them, and thus probably not a fit question for an exam, unless it's an advanced English grammar exam.  In which case, as a native speaker, I would probably fail!

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