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Littlefuryman Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Pronoun case agreement
Hello,
The following example of improper usage of case is provided in Fowler's Modern English Usage Dictionary:
. . . the lady whom I had suspected to be she whom I had sought (or something to that effect).
I understand that copulative verbs cannot connect noun phrases whose heads are of discrepant cases, and so naturally know that this must be 'her', not 'she'.
This example is presented alongside a different example which apparently has the same error:
It is not likely that other and inferior works were done at the same time by an impostor pretending to be *he*.
I simply do not understand why this should not be 'he'. If we expanded it fully would it not be "an impostorwho was pretending to be he"?
A detailed explanation would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks
The following example of improper usage of case is provided in Fowler's Modern English Usage Dictionary:
. . . the lady whom I had suspected to be she whom I had sought (or something to that effect).
I understand that copulative verbs cannot connect noun phrases whose heads are of discrepant cases, and so naturally know that this must be 'her', not 'she'.
This example is presented alongside a different example which apparently has the same error:
It is not likely that other and inferior works were done at the same time by an impostor pretending to be *he*.
I simply do not understand why this should not be 'he'. If we expanded it fully would it not be "an impostorwho was pretending to be he"?
A detailed explanation would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks
Top answer
Could someone please attempt an explanation?
- Could someone please attempt an explanation?
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3 Answers
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Ok, I'll hazard an explanation
Here is your sentence:
It is not likely that other and inferior works were done at the same time by an impostor pretending to be *he*.
Definition of copula: Grammar . a verb, as be, seem, or look, that serves as a connecting link or establishes an identity between subject and complement.
The infinitive "be" is
Here is your sentence:
It is not likely that other and inferior works were done at the same time by an impostor pretending to be *he*.
Definition of copula: Grammar . a verb, as be, seem, or look, that serves as a connecting link or establishes an identity between subject and complement.
The infinitive "be" is
00
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