that

[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.

[AintFoolin]

we offer you two things: our services and our ability to keep secrets
we offer you two things: our ability to repair you machines and our promise to keep your secrets

when you say "two things: x and y", x and y have to agree
'services' does not agree with 'that we can keep' or 'that we keep'

'that we will repair' and 'that we can keep' are probably ok, but the whole thing sounds kind of awkward. If you were going to stick with that one, i would at least change 'we can keep' to 'we will keep'

(when i say 'agree' i don't mean it in the formal grammatical sense)

[Casiopea]

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-.

[navi tasan]

Thanks Aintfoolin and Cas,
Cas, your explanation really does make things clear.
Cheers!

[Casiopea]

You're welcome. We're glad to help.