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Hello, everyone.Quote:
The European ministers plan to revisit the aid to Greece on July 3 following the Greek Parliament's vote of confidence in the reshuffled government led by Prime Minister George Papandreou. The ministers also insist that Athens make a firm commitment to raise cash by selling assets and cutting spending.
Should the writer have written makes instead the original form of the word here?
I am a bit confused.
Many Thanks
Richard
Hi Richard.
Make in this case is not plural, but rather subjunctive.
That was really quick, Barb_D.
I thought of it but was not sure.
Thanks
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubezero3
NOT A TEACHER
I believe that in some varieties of English, one could also say: should make.
TheParser, Thanks very much.
Is such form so formal that I'd better avoid it in casual conversations?
I think it has a plural meaning by itself; for example when we say:« men of Athens», it is always plural.
When we say 'men of Athens', men is plural, but Athens is singular.Quote:
Originally Posted by Timoteo
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubezero3
NOT A TEACHER
(1) I believe that we Americans love the subjunctive (even those Americans
who don't realize they are speaking the subjunctive. I recently read that
a study showed that most American children still say "If I were ....) :
(a) I insist that your son do his homework every day.
(2) I have read that our British friends have three choices:
I insist that your son do his homework. (Maybe American influence is
responsible for this.)
I insist that your son should do his homework.
I insist that your son does his homework. (This one, I think, would drive
American teachers crazy.)
They need driving?Quote:
Originally Posted by TheParser