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Newguest Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
was to have
Hello
1. In fact, the reactions of both groups were so intense that the experiment which was to have lasted for two weeks was broken off after six days.
WOULD IT BE OK IF I WROTE "...WHICH WAS TO LAST FOR TWO WEEKS..." INSTEAD OF "...WHICH WAS TO HAVE LASTED..."???
thanks
1. In fact, the reactions of both groups were so intense that the experiment which was to have lasted for two weeks was broken off after six days.
WOULD IT BE OK IF I WROTE "...WHICH WAS TO LAST FOR TWO WEEKS..." INSTEAD OF "...WHICH WAS TO HAVE LASTED..."???
thanks
Top answer
Hi Newguest, For a start, that sentence should really have commas around the inserted relative clause to show that the action that follows still applies to the main subject (experiment) - so: In fact, the reactions of both groups were so intense that the experiment[,] which was to have lasted for two weeks[,] was broken off after six days. Using "was to last" instead of "was to have lasted" sounds slightly strange to me in the new sentence. I think it is because the use of straight "was" sounds more definite, making the part that follows feel contradictory.
- Hi Newguest, For a start, that sentence should really have commas around the inserted relative clause to show that the action that follows still applies to the main subject (experiment) - so: In fact, the reactions of both groups were so intense that the experiment[,] which was to have lasted for two weeks[,] was broken off after six days.
- Using "was to last" instead of "was to have lasted" sounds slightly strange to me in the new sentence.
- I think it is because the use of straight "was" sounds more definite, making the part that follows feel contradictory.
- "Was to have" shows me that it was the original plan that didn't come to pass.
- On the other hand, a word like "supposed" can do the same function more effectively, giving us either: In fact, the reactions of both groups were so intense that the experiment[,] which was supposed to have lasted for two weeks[,] was broken off after six days.
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2 Answers
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Hi Newguest,
For a start, that sentence should really have commas around the inserted relative clause to show that the action that follows still applies to the main subject (experiment) - so:
In fact, the reactions of both groups were so intense that the experiment[,] which was to have lasted for two weeks[,] was broken off after six days.
For a start, that sentence should really have commas around the inserted relative clause to show that the action that follows still applies to the main subject (experiment) - so:
In fact, the reactions of both groups were so intense that the experiment[,] which was to have lasted for two weeks[,] was broken off after six days.
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WOULD IT BE OK IF I WROTE .......Yes, but, as discussed above, it would not convey as nicely the counterfactual aspect felt in the original was to have lasted.
CJ
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