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Pructus Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

What instead of that

Hello...

In the early 1998, Bill Gates couldn't envision what was to come. Microsoft was at the apex of its power, with revenues that would reach $14.5 billion by year's end.
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In the above, the underlined “that”...
How about replacing it with “what”?
Then, the structure will be “with revenues being what would reach $14.5 billion by year's end”.
  

Top answer

How about replacing it with “ being what”? No. Native speakers avoid 'being' structures like the plague.

— Mister Micawber

  • How about replacing it with “ being what”?
  • No.
  • Native speakers avoid 'being' structures like the plague.
  • I'm not sure that even works grammatically where you are trying to put it; it certainly doesn't sound right.
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4 Answers
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pructusIn the above, the underlined “that”...How about replacing it with “being what”?
No. Native speakers avoid 'being' structures like the plague. I'm not sure that even works grammatically where you are trying to put it; it certainly doesn't sound right.
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pructuswith revenues being what would reach $14.5 billion by year's end
Oof! Borderline grammatical but much worse than the original stylistically.

Try to avoid "with ... being ..." structures in your own writing.

CJ
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I see... I see...

Thanks a lot for the explanation, Mister Micawber!!
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I see.... I see...

Thanks so much for the input, CJ!!
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