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Believer Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

two mixed questions

1. Should this sentence with with the phrase "top priority" be having an article, a or the, in front of it or have no article?

It is natural tht social welfare should be given top priortiy in policy decision making.

2. Can you make a question out this sentence, besides the expression "Is she French?" ?

Annie is French.

I am sorry but how should I punctuate in the situation underlined? one question mark?
  

Top answer

Hi, 1. Should this sentence with with the phrase "top priority" be having an article, a or the, in front of it or have no article? It is natural that social welfare should be given top priority in policy decision making.

  • Hi, 1.
  • Should this sentence with with the phrase "top priority" be having an article, a or the, in front of it or have no article?
  • It is natural that social welfare should be given top priority in policy decision making.
  • It seems idiomatic without an article, or you could say 'the' if you want to sound specific.
  • 'A' suggests that there may be several 'top priorities', whcuh dose not sound like a very precise way of speaking.
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7 Answers
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Hi,

1. Should this sentence with with the phrase "top priority" be having an article, a or the, in front of it or have no article?

It is natural that social welfare should be given top priority in policy decision making.
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To Clive:

So, the top priority is a bit higher than top priority which in turn is higher than a top priority.

Do feel so?
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to give (something) top priority is a fixed phrase. No article.

Is Annie French?

Your punctuation is fine with me, but I'm not too fussy about punctuation.

CJ
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Doesn't anyone feel, like I do, that should is optional here?

It is natural that social welfare [should] be given top priority in policy
decision making.
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Re: should optional

No. After ... imperative that, yes, but not after ... natural that.
For some reason, after ... natural that I sense that the should is not a vacuous reinforcement of a subjunctive idea, but an indicative statement of advisability or expectation (i.e., a true indicative "should" or "ought"). That is, I feel the statement

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