recommend that parents do not

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joham

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[FONT=宋体]Teachers recommend parents [/FONT] their children under 12
to ride bicycles to school for safety.
A. not allow B. do not allow C. mustn't allow D. couldn't allow

The given answer is A. But I'd like to know if native speakers also often say 'recommend parents do not allow'... and think it is acceptable or even correct.

Thank you in advance.
 

bhaisahab

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[FONT=宋体]Teachers recommend parents [/FONT] their children under 12
to ride bicycles to school for safety.
A. not allow B. do not allow C. mustn't allow D. couldn't allow

The given answer is A. But I'd like to know if native speakers also often say 'recommend parents do not allow'... and think it is acceptable or even correct.

Thank you in advance.
It's a very badly constructed sentence, and therefore a bad test question.
A better sentence would be: Teachers recommend that, for reasons of safety, parents should not allow their children under 12 to cycle to school.
 

joham

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It's a very badly constructed sentence, and therefore a bad test question.
A better sentence would be: Teachers recommend that, for reasons of safety, parents should not allow their children under 12 to cycle to school.
Thanks, bhaisahab. And is the sentence 'Teachers recommend parents don't / do not allow...' acceptable in informal English?
 

tedtmc

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'Teachers recommend parents don't / do not allow..' is wrong.

I would prefer, 'Teachers recommend parents not to allow..'

You normally say 'recommend somebody to do/not to do something' OR
'recommend that somebody do/ not do something.

I don't think 'recommend that somebody should/should not do something' sounds natural either.

not a teacher
 

joham

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2006

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For safety reasons, [FONT=宋体]teachers recommend that parents not allow [/FONT]their children under 12 to ride bicycles to school.

A. not allow B. do not allow C. mustn't allow D. couldn't allow

The given answer is A. A is the best answer.

But I'd like to know if native speakers also often say 'recommend parents do not allow'... and think it is acceptable or even correct. I wouldn't say that; the "do" serves no useful purpose, and in some sentences it can change the meaning.
2006
 
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