LQZ
Member
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2009
- Member Type
- Other
- Native Language
- Chinese
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- China
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- China
To clarify the circumstances requires more effective measures than have/has been supposed,
Dear teacher,
I have asked some native speakers of English and interestingly, their answers somehow are contrary. Here are their answers.
Now I am thoroughly confused. Seems either have or has is acceptable. But I do need your help to make sure which one is the correct answer, in terms of academic knowledge. Thanks.
LQZ
Dear teacher,
I have asked some native speakers of English and interestingly, their answers somehow are contrary. Here are their answers.
The easy answer here is "than have been supposed". I think most speakers would prefer this version. Possibly people might be thinking of a "dummy subject" here: it has been supposed that we need to take more effective measures to clarify the circumstances. To use "has been supposed" in your question seems to require that the speaker refer to an "it" that isn't mentioned in the sentence: To clarify the circumstances requires more effective measures than has been supposed = To clarify the circumstances requires more effective measures than it was supposed earlier we needed.
This thinking is too convoluted and disjointed for me. I agree with you: To clarify the circumstances requires more effective measures than have been supposed.
It could go either way, but I personally would only use 'has'. The 'have' can't be agreeing with plural 'measures', because you don't suppose measures. (Nor do you suppose circumstances, though that is better, more plausible.) What has been supposed is that certain measures are required - and to clarify the circumstances requires more than this. It requires more than has been supposed. There is no overt dummy 'it' for the verb to agree with, but this is the meaning: the situation, not the measures, is what is being supposed.
Now I am thoroughly confused. Seems either have or has is acceptable. But I do need your help to make sure which one is the correct answer, in terms of academic knowledge. Thanks.
LQZ