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Andrei Posted 22 years ago
Grammar
His were
President George W Bush said Reagan was an "enduring symbol" of the US.
Mr Bush's four surviving predecessors attended the funeral, as did leading figures from abroad.
In a eulogy delivered on videotape because of her frail health, Baroness Thatcher said: "We have lost a great president, a great American and a great man, and I have lost a dear friend."
She hailed his role in ending communism in eastern Europe, saying: "He won the Cold War not only without firing a shot, but also by inviting enemies out of their fortress and turning them into friends."
Former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney told the mourners: "Ronald Reagan does not enter history tentatively, he does so with certainty and panache... His were not the pallid etchings of a timorous president, they were the bold strokes of an accomplished leader."
Former President George Bush senior was almost overcome by emotion as he paid homage to his predecessor, saying: "As his vice-president for eight years, I learned more from Ronald Reagan than anyone I encountered in my years of public life."
He was followed by his son, the current President Bush, who said of Reagan: "He was optimistic that liberty would thrive wherever it was planted and he acted to defend liberty wherever it was threatened... Through his love of our country, he became an enduring symbol of our country."
I don't understand the following sentence of the above.
"Ronald Reagan does not enter history tentatively, he does so with certainty and panache... His were not the pallid etchings of a timorous president, they were the bold strokes of an accomplished leader.
The words 'His were not the .......... is strange. What does those words mean?
Mr Bush's four surviving predecessors attended the funeral, as did leading figures from abroad.
In a eulogy delivered on videotape because of her frail health, Baroness Thatcher said: "We have lost a great president, a great American and a great man, and I have lost a dear friend."
She hailed his role in ending communism in eastern Europe, saying: "He won the Cold War not only without firing a shot, but also by inviting enemies out of their fortress and turning them into friends."
Former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney told the mourners: "Ronald Reagan does not enter history tentatively, he does so with certainty and panache... His were not the pallid etchings of a timorous president, they were the bold strokes of an accomplished leader."
Former President George Bush senior was almost overcome by emotion as he paid homage to his predecessor, saying: "As his vice-president for eight years, I learned more from Ronald Reagan than anyone I encountered in my years of public life."
He was followed by his son, the current President Bush, who said of Reagan: "He was optimistic that liberty would thrive wherever it was planted and he acted to defend liberty wherever it was threatened... Through his love of our country, he became an enduring symbol of our country."
I don't understand the following sentence of the above.
"Ronald Reagan does not enter history tentatively, he does so with certainty and panache... His were not the pallid etchings of a timorous president, they were the bold strokes of an accomplished leader.
The words 'His were not the .......... is strange. What does those words mean?
Top answer
What do these words mean? They mean that his actions were not those usually expected from a timid president. His actions were those usually expected from an experienced leader.
- What do these words mean?
- They mean that his actions were not those usually expected from a timid president.
- His actions were those usually expected from an experienced leader.
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7 Answers
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What do these words mean?
They mean that his actions were not those usually expected from a timid president.
His actions were those usually expected from an experienced leader.
They mean that his actions were not those usually expected from a timid president.
His actions were those usually expected from an experienced leader.
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Radrook
I appreciate your comments.
Would you ever write '' His were '' ?
They are not grammatical. How do you explain the grammatical nature?
You might say it is subjunctive form. My knowledge is not enough to absorb it as subjunctive.
I appreciate your comments.
Would you ever write '' His were '' ?
They are not grammatical. How do you explain the grammatical nature?
You might say it is subjunctive form. My knowledge is not enough to absorb it as subjunctive.
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"The pallid etchings of a timorous president were not his"
And then you front "his". Does this help explain why the sentence is grammatical?
And then you front "his". Does this help explain why the sentence is grammatical?
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Your way of rewriting makes some sense. It seems people just toss the words without any reagard to the basic grammar. I can't think of making any sensible sentence by starting words '' His were ........
However,I admit the fact that English is not my first language. My first language is Polish.
You can construct sentences in the following manner to my knowledge of English; i
However,I admit the fact that English is not my first language. My first language is Polish.
You can construct sentences in the following manner to my knowledge of English; i
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Andrei,
In the sentence you're asking about, "his" is a possessive pronoun, not a possessive adjective. That makes a difference.
In "This is my book", 'my' is a possessive adjective, it precedes the noun it modifies (books).
In "This book is mine", 'mine' is a possessive pronoun, it replaces the noun. It similar to saying "This book is my book." But you use a possessive pronoun so
In the sentence you're asking about, "his" is a possessive pronoun, not a possessive adjective. That makes a difference.
In "This is my book", 'my' is a possessive adjective, it precedes the noun it modifies (books).
In "This book is mine", 'mine' is a possessive pronoun, it replaces the noun. It similar to saying "This book is my book." But you use a possessive pronoun so
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Miriam
I have no words to express my grattitude. You have given a brilliant explanation about my question. You are ultra clever at English grammar.
You haven't given any silly examples. They are excellent , simple examples; so that is the way you teach English to people of Slavic origin.
I have no words to express my grattitude. You have given a brilliant explanation about my question. You are ultra clever at English grammar.
You haven't given any silly examples. They are excellent , simple examples; so that is the way you teach English to people of Slavic origin.
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Please, Andrei! I'm not 'ultra clever' at anything! ~chuckles~
There are many things I know, and there are many others I don't, just like everyone else.
There are many things I know, and there are many others I don't, just like everyone else.
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