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MrGuedes Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
Reported speech: "Let there be light!"
Hello! I was thinking about this famous verse: "And God said: 'Let there be light!' and there was light." I don't know if you're familiar with it.
I was wondering how to pass that sentence into the reported speech. I couldn't find a way. I think this kind of sentences that begin with let is not that easy to report...
With some of those sentences, there's no problem. For example: "He told me: 'Let us go outside!' " can easily be said "He told me to let them go outside". But in cases in which the verb that follows is there to be, that makes things harder, because you can't really say "God said to there be light" or anything similar, can you?
So, am I missing something, or is rewriting the sentence into something like "God ordered light to be formed" the only thing we can do to have it in the reported speech?
I was wondering how to pass that sentence into the reported speech. I couldn't find a way. I think this kind of sentences that begin with let is not that easy to report...
With some of those sentences, there's no problem. For example: "He told me: 'Let us go outside!' " can easily be said "He told me to let them go outside". But in cases in which the verb that follows is there to be, that makes things harder, because you can't really say "God said to there be light" or anything similar, can you?
So, am I missing something, or is rewriting the sentence into something like "God ordered light to be formed" the only thing we can do to have it in the reported speech?
Top answer
*** commanded that there be light.
- *** commanded that there be light.
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10 Answers
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"(...) that there be (...)"? I'm virtually sure that I've never seen such a sentence... It makes sense, though... Better than anything I'd thought...
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MrGuedes"(...) that there be (...)"? I'm virtually sure that I've never seen such a sentence...It's an example of the nearly defunct subjunctive mood. Another example:
He asked that we all be in our places by noon the time class starts.
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PhilipIt's an example of the nearly defunct subjunctive mood.OK. I didn't know that the subjunctive mood could be used this way in English. Thanks, Philip!
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MrGuedesI'm virtually sure that I've never seen such a sentenceRead these, and you won't have to make that claim anymore!
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CalifJimRead these, and you won't have to make that claim anymore!I shan't, CJ. Not anymore. It's just something new. It's good to learn new things. Thank you!
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CalifJimRead these, and you won't have to make that claim anymore!And the form can be used verbs other than just be.
The dentist insisted that his patient arrive 15 minutes before his actual.
The minister requires that the soloist sing only a certain type of song.
[ I think the "rule" includes the term, or at least the concept of,
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With verbs other than to be... That sounds odder... Well, I'll try to get used to this kind of formation. Once again, thank you everyone!
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This might be just enough to get you started without causing any fear with the subjunctive.
http://englishplus.com/grammar/00000031.htm
http://englishplus.com/grammar/00000031.htm
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