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Originally Posted by navi tasan Are these sentences correct:
1-We offer you two things: our services and that we can keep secrets.
2- We offer you two things: our services and that we keep secrets.
3-We offer you two things: that we will repair your machines and that we can keep secrets. |
In addition, and working from AF's re: x and y structure, I believe the reason 1- and 2- sound semi-awkward and 3- very awkward has to do with the fact that the verb
offer subcategorized for two phrases, and that one of the phrases is referenced to a clause, 'that we can keep secrets' is a clause.(Please note that, below, 'you' is the IO, and 'two things', is the DO, and the clause 'that...' is referenced to the DO)
1- We offer you two things:
our services and *
that we can keep secrets.
1a- We offer you
our services and *
that we can keep secrets.
The first part of the sentence sounds fine; it's the last part that's awkward, which accounts for why 1- and 2- sound "semi"-awkward. The verb's direct object, "two things" (which I've omitted in 1a-) is referenced to a phrase and a clause. That the phrase and the clause differ in structure doesn't seem to be the root of the problem, though, since two clauses are just as awkward:
3- We offer you two things: *
that we will repair your machines and *
that we can keep secrets.
3a- We offer you *
that we will repair your machines and *
that we can keep secrets.
The clauses are the problem, which would account for why 3- sounds even more awkward than 1- and 2-.
that 
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