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Kilimanjaro Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

I'm anxious that nobody should be hurt.

"I'm anxious that nobody should be hurt."

This sentence is from Michael SWAN's "Practical English Usage" 3rd edition, Page 512. entry no 521.

I can't understand why "nobody" is used here. The sentence seems to relate the opposite of what is intended.Is it a "typo"? What does the sentence mean?
  

Top answer

It's fine. What do you suggest instead? It means, in rough indicatives ( which isn't the sam e, but just to talk about the pronoun and the situation): I do not want that someone/somebody is/becomes hurt.

— Marius Hancu

  • It's fine.
  • What do you suggest instead?
  • It means, in rough indicatives ( which isn't the sam e, but just to talk about the pronoun and the situation): I do not want that someone/somebody is/becomes hurt.
  • Using the correct subjunctive: I do not want that someone/somebody be hurt.
  • You can use only a negation in English, thus nobody.
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3 Answers
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It's fine.

What do you suggest instead?

It means, in rough indicatives (which isn't the same, but just to talk about the pronoun and the situation):

I do not want that someone/somebody is/becomes hurt.

Using the correct subjunctive:

I do not want that someone/somebody be hurt.

You can use only a negation i
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1. "I'm anxious that nobody should be hurt."

2. "I'm anxious that somebody should be hurt"

What is the difference between thse two sentences then?

I can understand the second sentence and its meaning. But the "I'm anxious" part and "nobody should be hurt" do not cohere as far as I can see. It gives the idea that I don't want anybody not to be hurt
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1. "I'm anxious that nobody should be hurt."
anxious=afraid
You're good, you do NOT want them hurt

2. "I'm anxious that somebody should be hurt"
anxious=eager
you're BAD, you WANT them hurt



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