I don't know how to interpret this.

Question

Everything hinges on North Korea negotiating in good faith over years.The problem is 'negotiating' part. Is its subject 'North Korea'?Can I interpret this as 'Everything hinges on whether or not North Korea negotiates in good faith over years' ?

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

Everything hinges on North Korea negotiating in good faith over years.

The problem is 'negotiating' part. Is its subject 'North Korea'?

Can I interpret this as 'Everything hinges on whether or not North Korea negotiates in good faith over years' ?

I see it as a gerund. You could write it more carefully as

Everything hinges on North Korea's negotiating in good faith over years.

over years is not idiomatic. Say something else, like 'over a period of years'.

Best wishes, Clive

Ahn · Answer

The original was a 'over a period of years'. I mistook when I passed them on.

Thank you for your answer.

I don't know how to interpret this.

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