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MarvinTheMartian Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

To demand of...

0Can the verb "compel" be used to mean "make a demand", or does it have a more forceful connotation to it? Consider the examples below:02br
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001. "The rebels demanded of the king that the prisoners be released."02br
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002. "The rebels compelled the king to release the prisoners."02br
02br
00In this context, can "compel" be used as a synonym of "demand of", or does it necessarily imply that the rebels were successful in their campaign to liberate the prisoners? I'm asking this because I can't think of a substitute for "demand of". I could be wrong, but I feel it makes my first example sound slightly "antiquated" (for lack of a better word.) Is there a simpler, less formal way of saying it? I thought of saying "The rebels pressured the king..." or "The rebels urged the king...", but neither of these verbs sounds imperative enough. Besides, I feel they somewhat detract from my intended meaning.02br
02br
00I think I've hit a dead-end. Can someone please help me with this?0-
  

Top answer

0Hi,02br 02br 01font 00Can the verb "compel" be used to mean "make a demand", or does it have a more forceful connotation to it? Consider the examples below:02font 02br 02br 01font 001. 02br 02br 01font 002.

— Clive

  • 0Hi,02br 02br 01font 00Can the verb "compel" be used to mean "make a demand", or does it have a more forceful connotation to it?
  • Consider the examples below:02font 02br 02br 01font 001.
  • 02br 02br 01font 002.
  • 02br 02br 01font 00In this context, can "compel" be used as a synonym of "demand of", or does it necessarily imply that the rebels were successful in their campaign to liberate the prisoners?
  • 00<<< Yes 02font 02br 02br 01font 00I'm asking this because I can't think of a substitute for "demand of".
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3 Answers
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0Hi,02br
02br
01font00Can the verb "compel" be used to mean "make a demand", or does it have a more forceful connotation to it? Consider the examples below:02font02br
02br
01font001. "The rebels demanded of the king that the prisoners be released." 02font00In simple terms, it mea
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0Thanks, I thought of that as well. "The rebels demanded that the king release the prisoners" is a fine substitute, but it doesn't specify whether the rebels addressed the king himself or a mere subservient. For all we know, they could have asked the cook or the chamberlain to deliver the message. I wish to make it 01i00explicit02i00 that the rebels voiced their demand bef
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0>I wish to make it explicit that the rebels voiced their demand before the king himself.02br
01i00The rebels 01b00were received 02b00by the king and demanded that the prisoners be released.02i02br
01i00The rebels 01b00met 02b00the king and demanded that the prisoners be released.02i0-
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