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Parading Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

'if it hoped to do' form is possible?

Hello~ It's reeally been a while.

reading some articles, I've found an unfamiliar English structures to me.

please consider I don't live in one of the countries using English as first language.

I'll present you some small part of the article with the sturcture underlined.

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Southern Star Airlines announced more job cuts, slashed its profit forecast by more than half and defered new plane orders, saying it had no choice if it hoped to weather the global downturn.

The CEO, Richard Branch, said, quote, "We had no choice but to make the cuts. ...

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in the form 'if it hoped to'

I can't understand why 'it' is the subject of the sentence

and I haven't ever heard the form 'if it hoped to' used in sentence.

anyway they're using the form so I don't have any choice to admit it though.

actually I think if it is hoped to weather the global downturn is more grammaical, isn't it?

is there anyone to let me get this structure?
  

Top answer

'it' refers to the company Southern Star Airlines. That company is the entity doing the hoping; hence, it hoped to. Your suggestion using 'is' is not correct.

  • 'it' refers to the company Southern Star Airlines.
  • That company is the entity doing the hoping; hence, it hoped to.
  • Your suggestion using 'is' is not correct.
  • ) and The man hopes to win.
  • In the former someone else is doing the hoping -- probably the general public, since it is not mentioned by whom -- while in the latter the man himself hopes to win.
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1 Answers
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'it' refers to the company Southern Star Airlines. That company is the entity doing the hoping; hence, it hoped to. Your suggestion using 'is' is not correct. Consider these two sentences: The man is hoped to win (by whom?) and The man hopes to win. In the former someone else is doing the hoping -- probably the general public, since it is not mentioned by whom -- while in the latter the man himse

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