Perplexing sentences
What is the difference between the following sentences?
- I suggest that Ali does sport.
- I suggest that Ali do sport.
My answer :
The second sentence is the subjunctive, while the first is the ordinary indicative. The subjunctive is more correct, but tends to be literary. The first sentence is more colloquial, but the spoken version would more likely be along the lines of “I think he ought to do sport ; he ought to do sport”. Modal verbs such as “ought” or “should” hide the use of the subjunctive.
Am I right?
Top answer
Omar Ahmed Am I right? Mostly. Your use of the word "sport" there means UK English.
- Omar Ahmed Am I right?
- Mostly.
- Your use of the word "sport" there means UK English.
- I am US where we say "sports" in the same meaning.
- They use the subjunctive much less in everyday speech and writing than we do.
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Omar AhmedAm I right?
Mostly. Your use of the word "sport" there means UK English. I am US where we say "sports" in the same meaning. They use the subjunctive much less in everyday speech and writing than we do. Our use of it is inconsistent, but with "suggest" it is mandatory. "I suggest that Ali does sport(s)" cannot mean "I recommend that Ali should enga
0Omar AhmedI suggest that Ali does sport.
I suggest that Ali do sport.
See also for a similar pair.
CJ
0
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