sentence transformation

hela · #1 (**permalink**) 22-Apr-2004, 14:10

Dear Teachers,

Would you please help me with these sentences?

I/ sentence transformation:

1) I think we should have a break now.
It is time ……………………………………………………………

a) It is time we had a break now. (Do we have to keep NOW ?)
b) It is time for us to have a break.
c) It is time to have a break. (Are all these possibilities correct?)

2. I shall finish this report next week. I shall be ready to relax.
By the time ………………………………………………….…….

a) By the time I finish this report next week, I shall be ready to relax.
b) By the time I have finished this report next week, I shall be ready to relax.

(Which one is best and why?)

3. “ Let’s go out for a walk, » he said.
He suggested ……………………………………………………

a) He suggested that we went out for a walk.
b) He suggested that we should go out for a walk.
c) He suggested that we go out for a wallk.

Is sentence a) grammatically correct?

II/ Could you please tell me if this sentence is correct?

I should never leave my job. If I had not stayed with BP, I wouldn’t have won a promotion and I would not be rich now.

Thank you very much.
Best regards,
Hela

Tdol · #2 (**permalink**) 22-Apr-2004, 16:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by hela

Dear Teachers,

Would you please help me with these sentences?

I/ sentence transformation:

1) I think we should have a break now.
It is time ……………………………………………………………

a) It is time we had a break now. (Do we have to keep NOW ?)
b) It is time for us to have a break.
c) It is time to have a break. (Are all these possibilities correct?)

I'll get started- I haven't got time to do all now, but I'll be back after work.

All three are correct. 'Now' isn't necessary in a). b) + c) state that it is the given time for the break, while a) could express how the speaker feels, rather than indicating that it is the set time for a break.

MikeNewYork · #3 (**permalink**) 22-Apr-2004, 23:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by hela

Dear Teachers,

Would you please help me with these sentences?

I/ sentence transformation:

1) I think we should have a break now.
It is time ……………………………………………………………

a) It is time we had a break now. (Do we have to keep NOW ?)
b) It is time for us to have a break.
c) It is time to have a break. (Are all these possibilities correct?)

I like b. the most. The first doesn't need "now".

Quote:

2. I shall finish this report next week. I shall be ready to relax.
By the time ………………………………………………….…….

a) By the time I finish this report next week, I shall be ready to relax.
b) By the time I have finished this report next week, I shall be ready to relax.

(Which one is best and why?)

I would choose a. I don't care for present perfect for fiture time. Future perfect can be used:

By next week, I will have finished this report and will be ready to relax.

Quote:

3. “ Let’s go out for a walk, » he said.
He suggested ……………………………………………………

a) He suggested that we went out for a walk.
b) He suggested that we should go out for a walk.
c) He suggested that we go out for a wallk.

Is sentence a) grammatically correct?

It is grammatically correct, but it has a different meaning. In both b. and c. the dependent clause employs the present subjunctive, which is correct after verbs, such as: suggest, demand, etc. When one uses the past tense, the meaning changes from making a suggestion about what to do to making an implication about what did happen.

For example:

John suggested that we buy the car. (John suggested that we should buy the car)
John suggested that we bought the car. (John implied that we had bought the car).

Quote:

II/ Could you please tell me if this sentence is correct?

I should never leave my job. If I had not stayed with BP, I wouldn’t have won a promotion and I would not be rich now.

Yes it is correct, but I'm not sure about the first "should". To me it means "It is advisable that I not leave my job". Was that your intent?

hela · #4 (**permalink**) 23-Apr-2004, 15:36

Dear teachers,

Just a recap:

If I understood you well, we can say:

1) a) He suggested that we should go for a walk.
b) He suggested that we go for a walk.
c) He suggested going for a walK (?)

Do they mean the same?

2) a) It is only right that she should have a share.
b) It is only right that she have a share.
c) Can we use the past here?

3) a) It is incredible that they should buy such a luxurious house.
b) It is incredible that they buy such a luxurious house.
c) It is incredible that they bought such a luxurious house.

Is (c) possible here? If yes, would it have a different meaning?

4) a) It is ridiculous that we should be short of water in a country where it always rain.
b) It is ridiculous that we be short of water...

5) a) It is amazing that she should have said nothing about the murder.
b) It is amazing that she had said nothing about the murder.

Thank you very much for you help and patience. It is only that I get confused with the use of the subjunctive.

Best regards,
Hela

MikeNewYork · #5 (**permalink**) 23-Apr-2004, 17:55

[quote="hela"]Dear teachers,

Just a recap:

If I understood you well, we can say:

1) a) He suggested that we should go for a walk.
b) He suggested that we go for a walk.
c) He suggested going for a walK (?)

Do they mean the same?[quote]

b and c mean the same thing. IMO, a is stronger than the others because of "should".

Quote:

2) a) It is only right that she should have a share.
b) It is only right that she have a share.
c) Can we use the past here?

a. and b. are correct. I prefer b.

We can use the past in b. -- "that she had a share".

Quote:

3) a) It is incredible that they should buy such a luxurious house.
b) It is incredible that they buy such a luxurious house.
c) It is incredible that they bought such a luxurious house.

Is (c) possible here? If yes, would it have a different meaning?

C is possible and it would have a different meaning. The first two are hypothetical. In C, they actually bought the house.

Quote:

4) a) It is ridiculous that we should be short of water in a country where it always rain.
b) It is ridiculous that we be short of water...

A should end with "it always rains".

B and the rest of A are correct.

Quote:

5) a) It is amazing that she should have said nothing about the murder.
b) It is amazing that she had said nothing about the murder.

I would not use A, but it might be OK in British English.
B is correct, but the past perfect tense indicates that her saying nothing was prior to some other past event.