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Usenet Posted 16 years ago
Usage
I do not recall ever hearing uttered the words "Communism"
Hello
I saw this sentence and found it strange, simply in my own sense, being an intermediate learner (or just a beginner) of English, which is not my mother tongue. Could anyone tell me what does "uttered" function here? I guess it's a verb, but could it be there without a "subject"? I mean in formal writing.
Here is the sentence.
"In my myriad meetings I had with Chinese economic and financial officials, I do not recall ever hearing uttered the words "Communism" or "Marx".
With thanks to all.
Kevin in Hong Kong
I saw this sentence and found it strange, simply in my own sense, being an intermediate learner (or just a beginner) of English, which is not my mother tongue. Could anyone tell me what does "uttered" function here? I guess it's a verb, but could it be there without a "subject"? I mean in formal writing.
Here is the sentence.
"In my myriad meetings I had with Chinese economic and financial officials, I do not recall ever hearing uttered the words "Communism" or "Marx".
With thanks to all.
Kevin in Hong Kong
Top answer
[nq:1]Hello I saw this sentence and found it strange, simply in my own sense, being an intermediate learner (or just ... [/nq] I think it is a participle (verb used as an adjective) modifying "words". It is easier to see if written as "...
- [nq:1]Hello I saw this sentence and found it strange, simply in my own sense, being an intermediate learner (or just ...
- [/nq] I think it is a participle (verb used as an adjective) modifying "words".
- It is easier to see if written as "...
- ".
- Bill in Kentucky
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7 Answers
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[nq:1]Hello I saw this sentence and found it strange, simply in my own sense, being an intermediate learner (or just ... I had with Chinese economic and financial officials, I do not recall ever hearing uttered the words "Communism" or "Marx".[/nq]
I think it is a participle (verb used as an adjective) modifying "words". It is easier to see if written as "... I do not recall ever hearing the u
I think it is a participle (verb used as an adjective) modifying "words". It is easier to see if written as "... I do not recall ever hearing the u
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[nq:1]Hello I saw this sentence and found it strange, simply in my own sense, being an intermediate learner (or just ... I do not recall ever hearing uttered the words "Communism" or "Marx". With thanks to all. Kevin in Hong Kong[/nq]
It is simply another way of saying 'said' - although perhaps considered to be slightly more elegant. This would mean exactly the same thing: '... I do not recall
It is simply another way of saying 'said' - although perhaps considered to be slightly more elegant. This would mean exactly the same thing: '... I do not recall
00
Hello Kevin
Yes, ‘uttered’ is functioning as a verb, and it does indeed have a subject. If you recast the clause like this, you’ll see that the subject of ‘uttered’ is the noun phrase ‘the words Communism or Marx’:
I do not recall ever hearing [the words Communism or Marx (being) uttered].
It’s not unusual to put certain v
Yes, ‘uttered’ is functioning as a verb, and it does indeed have a subject. If you recast the clause like this, you’ll see that the subject of ‘uttered’ is the noun phrase ‘the words Communism or Marx’:
I do not recall ever hearing [the words Communism or Marx (being) uttered].
It’s not unusual to put certain v
00
[nq:1]Hello I saw this sentence and found it strange, simply in my own sense, being an intermediate learner (or just ... economic and financial officials, I do not recall ever hearing uttered the words "Communism" or "Marx". With thanks to all.[/nq]
In the myriad of meetings I had with Chinese economic and financial officials, I do not recall ever hearing the words "Communism" or "Marx"
ut
In the myriad of meetings I had with Chinese economic and financial officials, I do not recall ever hearing the words "Communism" or "Marx"
ut
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GFH - you've just repeated what I said, but without addressing Kevin's concern about the apparent lack of a subject for the verb 'uttered'.
Kevin - are you okay now with the subject being 'the words Communism or Marx', as I said in my first reply?
BillJ
Kevin - are you okay now with the subject being 'the words Communism or Marx', as I said in my first reply?
BillJ
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[nq:1]GFH - you've just repeated what I said, but without addressing Kevin's concern about the apparent lack of a subject ... are you okay now with the subject being 'the words Communism or Marx', as I said in my first reply?[/nq]
Is an important point not being missed?
The sentence is possibly a little clearer if "being" (or maybe "having been"?) is added:
"I do not recall ever hearin
Is an important point not being missed?
The sentence is possibly a little clearer if "being" (or maybe "having been"?) is added:
"I do not recall ever hearin
00
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