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Norwolf Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Repaired/being repaired/to be repaired

Hi, teachers.

Here is a question remaining to be made clear.

Many buildings in the city need repairing, but the one ______ first is the library.

A repaired B being repaired C repairing D to be repaired

Personally, it doesn't provide context enough to be answered:

If the library should be repaired, we say D.

When it is being repaired, we say B.

When it has just been repaired, we say A.

Although D is the best choice, the others still make sense.

Would you please correct my mistakes, if any?

Thank you very much.
  

Top answer

norwolf Although D is the best choice, the others still make sense. I agree with your logic and grammar. I just don't understand why any of the correct alternatives should be considered the best.

— Cool Breeze

  • norwolf Although D is the best choice, the others still make sense.
  • I agree with your logic and grammar.
  • I just don't understand why any of the correct alternatives should be considered the best.
  • CB
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8 Answers
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norwolfAlthough D is the best choice, the others still make sense.
I agree with your logic and grammar. I just don't understand why any of the correct alternatives should be considered the best.

CB
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Cool Breeze
norwolfAlthough D is the best choice, the others still make sense.
I agree with your logic and grammar. I just don't understand why any of the correct alternatives should be considered the best.CB
Dear Cool, I think need repairing means something wants to be repaired but we have not begun to do it.
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norwolfMany buildings in the city need repairing
No work has been started yet.

A and C are ungrammatical. B being repaired suggests work has been started, which contradicts the use of need. So D is correct.

CJ
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Many buildings in the city need repairing, but the one __ first is the library.

A repaired B being repaired C repairing D to be repaired
CalifJim
norwolfMany buildings in the city need repairing
No work has been started yet.A and C are ungrammatical. B being repaired suggests work has bee
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Cool BreezeFor me alternative A is an ordinary passive relative clause equivalent:
Many buildings in the city need repairing, but the one [that was] repaired first is the library.
My ear requires ... but the one [that was] repaired first was the library.
Cool BreezeAlternative B doesn't contradict the use o
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CalifJimMy ear requires ... but the one [that was] repaired first was the library.
Jim, you're right! I forgot the sequence of tenses, which requires logic to be cast into the wind!
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Cool BreezeHave a beer, it'll spoil your ear and make Helsinki English more palatable. Emotion: beer
Thank
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I am profoundly grateful to you both for so detailed interpretations, Cool and Jim.
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