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Tinanam0102 Posted 15 years ago
Vocabulary

That's not what has tongues wagging now

Hi teachers,

Only a year ago, president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was widely feted as the man who had turned Brazil into a competitive powerhouse, the China of Latin America. That's not what has tongues wagging now. Rather than using Brazil's prominence to press outlier regimes to respect himan rights and comply with international rules on using nuclear power, Lula suddenly seems bent on ducking controversy and commodating demagogues.

1. What does this mean?

2. What structure is this? "What has verb+ing"

Thank you.

Tinanam
  

Top answer

Hi, Only a year ago, president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was widely feted as the man who had turned Brazil into a competitive powerhouse, the China of Latin America. That's not what has tongues wagging now. Rather than using Brazil's prominence to press outlier regimes to respect himan rights and comply with international rules on using nuclear power, Lula suddenly seems bent on ducking controversy and commodating demagogues.

— Clive

  • Hi, Only a year ago, president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was widely feted as the man who had turned Brazil into a competitive powerhouse, the China of Latin America.
  • That's not what has tongues wagging now.
  • Rather than using Brazil's prominence to press outlier regimes to respect himan rights and comply with international rules on using nuclear power, Lula suddenly seems bent on ducking controversy and commodating demagogues.
  • 1.
  • What does this mean?
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8 Answers
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Hi,

Only a year ago, president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was widely feted as the man who had turned Brazil into a competitive powerhouse, the China of Latin America. That's not what has tongues wagging now. Rather than using Brazil's prominence to press outlier regimes to respect himan rights and comply with international rules on
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Hi Clive,

Thank you for your answering.

"What has X verb+ing " meaning what makes X do something. (I'm sorry I even have a difficulty expressing this to you in a question?)

Thanks

Tinanam
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Hi,
I'm not sure I understand your question.

Let me offer a very crude and stark example for you to consider.

Tom will be dead in a minute.

What has Tom dying
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tinanam0102What structure is this? "What has verb+ing"
Causative have in a pseudo-cleft (the nominal what construction).

Jan is late again. That is making me worry.
What is making me worry | is | the fact that Jan is late again.
What has me worrying is the fact that Jan is late
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Hi CalifJim,

Thank you for showing me this pattern. Causative: My grammar books do not mention this pattern except:

My English teacher had us give oral reports

Causative: Make, Get, Have (in order of most force and authority)

Does it have a difference because "what" is in the sentence so you have an "verb+ing"?

Thank you.

Tinanam
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Hi,

Note that you don't have to use verb + ing.
eg What has me angry is your rudeness.

Clive
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tinanam0102Does it have make a difference because "what" is in the sentence so you have an "verb+ing"?
As Clive has said, no, it makes no difference. The -ing is not required in that construction.

CJ
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Hi Clive, Hi CalifJim,

Thank you for your explanation.

Have a wonderful day.

Tinanam
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