May well endure

Question

Hi teachers,By alienating potential friends - the resentment felt in the DPJ, for example, may well endure - Washington only nudges these countries closer to Beijing.Which had to "may well endure"?Thank you.Tinanam

Avangi · Accepted Answer

tinanam0102Which had to "may well endure"?

I don't really understand the question.

In the parenthetical expression "the resentment may endure," "may endure" is a modal verb structure, and is the finite verb in the clause.

The parenthetical (between the dashes) modifies the rest of the sentence in its entirety, and seems awkwardly placed, as if in casual conversation.

The main clause is "Washington nudges."

"By alienating friends" is an introductory phrase which functions adverbially.

The bit about resentment is just additional information.

Tinanam0102 · Answer

Hi Avangi,

Is it the resentment may well endure or the DPJ may well endure?

Thank you very much.

Tinanam

Avangi · Answer

Aha! The resentmentmay well endure!

The resentment (which is felt in the DPJ) may well endure.

Anonymous · Answer

Hi Avangi,

There's one thing I don't understand with the "endure" usage.

For example:

Sometimes I have to endure sitting next to someone who wears strong fragrance in class.

Does this mean, "fragance has to endure"? And not the person, in this myself, has to endure?

Thank you.

Tinanam

Avangi · Answer

Hi, Tinanam,

The verb "to endure" can be either transitive or intransitive.

When it's transitive, the subject of the verb endures the object of the verb:

The sea wall endured the fierce pounding of the ocean waves. (The sea wall is the actor. It resists the ocean.)

I could no longer endure the offensive odor of her perfume.

When it's intransitive, the subject of the verb "just does it."

The smell of her perfume endures for hours after she leaves the room. (The smell is the actor. It lasts!)
The pyramids have endured for centuries.

AnonymousSometimes I have to endure sitting next to someone who wears strong fragrance in class.

You are the actor. You perform the act of enduring.
In a sense, what you endure is the perfume, or the smell of the perfume.
But according to your sentence, what you endure is "sitting." (specifically, sitting next to the offending person)

I expect it's hard to think of "enduring" as an action. You don't really do anything. You just try not to let it bother you. (But sometimes that's a lot of work!)

Tinanam0102 · Answer

Hi Avangi,

Thanks again for your explanation. It's transitive and intransitive again. I think my sentence did pose a problem. I was meaning to say I have to endure the fragance, not the sitting nor the person. However I wrote it wrong.

Can I re-write it: Please check it for me.

Sometimes I have to endure the perfume this classmate was wearing who sits next to me in class.

Thanks

Tinanam

Avangi · Answer

I didn't mean to imply that your sentence is incorrect.

You can say, "Often in winter I had to endure sleeping in a freezing cold room without sufficient blankets."

What I meant to say is that you can name the specific element which causes the problem (the cold), or you can describe the situation in its entirety. Both sentences are fine.

If you ask the question, "What is the direct object of the verb 'to endure' ?" the answer seems to be "sleeping." But in another sense, you need to include all the qualifiers of "sleeping" in order for it to be reasonable.

I guess I got into this because you were asking if the fragrance endured or if the person endured.

Tinanam0102 · Answer

Hi Avangi,

Thanks a million.

Tinanam

May well endure

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