0
Alc24 Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

In Vain please help

can you say:

Don't let his death be in vain.

Don't let is death have been in vain.

Was his death in vain?

Don't let him have died in vain

Did you let his death have been in vain?

can you say all 5? Which are correc as a lot of them on't sound right.

thank you
  

Top answer

There's a typo in the second one. is death for his death . Other than that, and lack of a period on the fourth one, all are OK except the last one, which is ungrammatical.

— CalifJim

  • There's a typo in the second one.
  • is death for his death .
  • Other than that, and lack of a period on the fourth one, all are OK except the last one, which is ungrammatical.
  • And even if you fix the grammar, it's still pretty unidiomatic: Did you let his death be in vain?
  • CJ
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

7 Answers
0
There's a typo in the second one. is death for his death.

Other than that, and lack of a period on the fourth one, all are OK except the last one, which is ungrammatical. And even if you fix the grammar, it's still pretty unidiomatic:

Did you let his death be in vain?

CJ
0
0
Don't let his death have been in vain.
I don't understand this one. Could you please explain the structure to me? For example:



Don't let him be so bossy. He will make our lives miserable.

Don't let him have been so bossy....?

Thanks,

Tom

0
0
What I don't get is the following 2 :

Don't let is death have been in vain.

Don't let him have died in vain

The HAVE BEEN PART SOUNDS WEIRD?

Anyone?

thank you
0
0
which is why I would have said

Don't let his death be in vain

as Tom pointed out it Don't let him be bossy and not Don't let him have been bossy. at least to me that makes sense.

Thanks
0
0
The emotional content of a sentence like that is somewhat like a prayer. That's why it makes sense when it involves a death, but not when it involves something commonplace.

(Please) don't let his death have been in vain.
(Please) don't let him have died in vain.

These translate thus:

I fervently hope that his death has not been in vain / that he has not died in vai
0
0
why can't you say

Don't let his death be in vain?

I think Ive heard it ?
0
0
alc24why can't you say

Don't let his death be in vain?
What are you talking about? Have you read your original question and my first answer?

This was your first question, and I said it was OK. Where did you get the idea that you can't say it?

CJ
0

Related Questions