Rewrite sentences no. 2

[Linnea_L]

Hello again,

I did another set of exercise. Could somebody correct the following sentences? It's the type of tasks where you have to rewrite a sentences, using a certain given word: (I inserted the words in bold, the rest is given)


1. It would have been a disaster for him to be made responsible.
put
If he had been put the responsibility, it would haven been serious consequences.

2. I think it would be better to get on as fast as possible.
much
I'd prefer us to gain as much progress as we can.

3. I wish he would learn to male his own breakfast.
high
It's high time he learnt to make breakfast for himself.

4. If only I had travelled more widely when I had the chance.
taken
I wish I had taken to chance to travel more widely.

5. I feel I mus say how worried I am about the proposed changes.
concern
I wish to express my concern over the proposed changes.

6. She thinks it would be better if he discovered the answer for himself.
found
She'd prefer it if he found the answer for himself.

7. I'd be happier if you kept it a secret.
rather
I'd rather you didn't tell anyone.

8. I'd prefer to be given the chance to work with other people.
allowed
I think it would be better if I was allowed to work in a team.

Thanks a lot!

 

[emsr2d2]

Hello again,

I did another set of exercise. Could somebody correct the following sentences? It's the type of tasks where you have to rewrite a sentences, using a certain given word: (I inserted the words in bold, the rest is given)


1. It would have been a disaster for him to be made responsible.
put
If he had been put [STRIKE]the responsibility[/STRIKE] in charge, there would haven been serious consequences.

2. I think it would be better to get on as fast as possible.
much
I'd prefer us to [STRIKE]gain[/STRIKE] make as much progress as we can.

3. I wish he would learn to make his own breakfast.
high
It's high time he learnt to make breakfast for himself. :tick: although there is no reason to change the end of the sentence. You could have simply said "It's high time he learnt to make his own breakfast".

4. If only I had travelled more widely when I had the chance.
taken
I wish I had taken [STRIKE]to[/STRIKE] the chance to travel more widely.

5. I feel I must say how worried I am about the proposed changes.
concern
I wish to express my concern over the proposed changes. :tick:

6. She thinks it would be better if he discovered the answer for himself.
found
She'd prefer it if he found the answer for himself. :tick:

7. I'd be happier if you kept it a secret.
rather
I'd rather you didn't tell anyone. :tick:

8. I'd prefer to be given the chance to work with other people.
allowed
I think it would be better if I was allowed to work in a team. Yes and no. You will hear this, but you will also find some people who insist on "if I were allowed to..."

Thanks a lot!

See above.

 

[Linnea_L]

Thank you!

8. I'd prefer to be given the chance to work with other people.
allowed
I think it would be better if I was allowed to work in a team. Yes and no. You will hear this, but you will also find some people who insist on "if I were allowed to..."

Okay, but is there a difference in meaning or is it just that some people prefer modal past because it sounds/is more elaborate?

 

[emsr2d2]

It means the same thing, it's just that some speakers use what we commonly refer to as the subjunctive (even though English doesn't have a subjunctive!). I don't know if they do it because it sounds more formal or simply because they believe (or were taught) that it is the only correct form.

 

[5jj]

It means the same thing, it's just that some speakers use what we commonly refer to as the subjunctive (even though English doesn't have a subjunctive!). I don't know if they do it because it sounds more formal or simply because they believe (or were taught) that it is the only correct form.

Those of us who use it were taught to use it at school; for me that was 50-55 years ago. Among people who considered theselves 'educated' then, non-use of the subjunctive was frowned on. In fact, even in those days, it was used only by a minority of native speakers of BrE, and already some writers were beginning to question its value.

These days most descriptive grammarians record 'was' as acceptable in British English, though Americans do use the subjunctive more.

It's still quite commonly heard in "If I were you", which many of us now regard as a fixed phrase; even with this, "if I was you" is commonly heard.

 

[Linnea_L]

Ah, okay. That's good to know. Thank you, you two.