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Jandi Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
(should)
Hello, teachers!
Would you please tell me if these are all acceptable?
1. What the workers insisted on was that they (should) be given more pay.
2. What the workers required was that they (should) be given more pay.
3. What the workers asked for was that they (should) be given more pay.
4. What the workers wanted was that they (should) be given more pay.
5. What the workers said was that they (should) be given more pay.
Thank you very much.
Would you please tell me if these are all acceptable?
1. What the workers insisted on was that they (should) be given more pay.
2. What the workers required was that they (should) be given more pay.
3. What the workers asked for was that they (should) be given more pay.
4. What the workers wanted was that they (should) be given more pay.
5. What the workers said was that they (should) be given more pay.
Thank you very much.
Top answer
The mandative subjunctive ('that they be given') does not work in (5) because the verb 'said' is not one of volition, it is a neutral statement. 'Want' does not work well either, perhaps because we have more common ways of expressing it: 'what the workers wanted was to be given more pay'; 'what the workers wanted was more pay'.
- The mandative subjunctive ('that they be given') does not work in (5) because the verb 'said' is not one of volition, it is a neutral statement.
- 'Want' does not work well either, perhaps because we have more common ways of expressing it: 'what the workers wanted was to be given more pay'; 'what the workers wanted was more pay'.
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3 Answers
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The mandative subjunctive ('that they be given') does not work in (5) because the verb 'said' is not one of volition, it is a neutral statement.
'Want' does not work well either, perhaps because we have more common ways of expressing it: 'what the workers wanted was to be given more pay'; 'what the workers wanted was more pay'.
'Want' does not work well either, perhaps because we have more common ways of expressing it: 'what the workers wanted was to be given more pay'; 'what the workers wanted was more pay'.
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All are at least marginally acceptable. Nevertheless, they are not all equally idiomatic.
1. What the workers insisted on was that they should be given more pay.
2. What the workers required was that they should be given more pay.
3. What the workers asked for was that they should be given more pay.
4. What the workers wanted was that they should be given more pay.
1. What the workers insisted on was that they should be given more pay.
2. What the workers required was that they should be given more pay.
3. What the workers asked for was that they should be given more pay.
4. What the workers wanted was that they should be given more pay.
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Thank you very much, MM & CJ!
Enjoy the smell of freshly turned earth!
Enjoy the smell of freshly turned earth!
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