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Tkacka15 Posted 8 years ago
Grammar

Why trigger/promise/agree

"Why trigger article 50 with no plan, no preparation, no strategy? Why promise undeliverable red lines, without warning of inevitable compromise? Why agree a meagre 21-month transition, when a complex trade deal takes years?"

(The Guardian.)


Are the three questions (about a reason) finite clauses with implied subject "you" in them?

In other words, is "do you" ellipted in those questions?

  

Top answer

Yes, this is elliptical. strategy? compromise?

  • Yes, this is elliptical.
  • strategy?
  • compromise?
  • " The three "would/should you's" are omitted for brevity and stylistic impact and are understood from the context.
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2 Answers
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Yes, this is elliptical. The complete passage would be something like:


"Why would/should/do you trigger....strategy? Why would/should/do you promise...compromise? Why would/should/do you agree a merge 21-month...years?" The three "would/should you's" are omitted for brevity and stylistic impact and are understood from the context.

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tkacka15In other words, is "do you" ellipted in those questions?

More like "should one", I'd say, where "one" seems to be some part of the government. "should they" is just as good.

CJ

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