First: Happy new year to all of you here

[belly_ttt]

First: Happy new year to all of you here
Second:
1) the committee changed its recommendations because_____ the previous ones were to difficult for most people to follow
a) that felt that
b) it felt that
c) they felt it
d) felt that
The answer is a. but why? I think b is more accurate

2)
Now that he has started law school, John _____ give up his volunteer work
a) has had
b) was to
c) has been
d) has had to
the answer is d. But why? I think it will be more accurate if we say: John gave up his volunteer work. Cannot understand why d here is acceptable

 

[cocoabutter]

First: Happy new year to all of you here
Second:

2)
Now that he has started law school, John _____ give up his volunteer work
a) has had
b) was to
c) has been
d) has had to
the answer is d. But why? I think it will be more accurate if we say: John gave up his volunteer work. Cannot understand why d here is acceptable

thank you and the same to you.
a) is wrong since we haven't got the following structure in English has had give
c) the same goes for this answer. Has been give is wrong
b) is a bit vague if I may say so. Was/were to do sth does not imply whether the action was performed or not. Reading the whole sentence provided by you it is obvious that first he had to give up his work, which he really did, and than he started law school.
d) this is the only possibility left.

 

[belly_ttt]

Hi,
Look like you missed the first question of mine
However, if d is the right choice, does it sound a bit awkward? Am I correct to use :John gave up his volunteer work ?

 

[cocoabutter]

well, as far as the 1st question is concerned, I haven't got the foggiest idea why a is the correct answer. I suppose it's sth to do with pronouns.

Hm, I'm studying English and I'm not a teacher but to my knowledge, if you consult especially Thomson & Martinet grammar book, it favours rather the 'most recent' action to be expressed in the perfect tense. The present perfect doesn't sound awkward since it relates to the present (he quitted the job and now he doesn't work there any more). As for me, I would accept both the tenses in this context.

 

[Anglika]

1) the committee changed its recommendations because_____ the previous ones were to difficult for most people to follow
a) that felt that
b) it felt that
c) they felt it
d) felt that
The answer is a. but why? I think b is more accurate

#a is incorrect. #b is best; #c is possible.

.

 

[cocoabutter]

could you explain why these answers are correct, please?
To feel when means to think is transative, isn't?

 

[Anglika]

1) the committee changed its recommendations because_____ the previous ones were to difficult for most people to follow
a) that felt that
b) it felt that
c) they felt it
d) felt that
The answer is a. but why? I think b is more accurate

#a is incorrect. #b is correct; #c and #d are incorrect


"to feel" in this context means "to have the opinion" or "considers" and can be either transitive or intransitive.


The committee changed its recommendations because it felt that the previous...
The committee is a single entity - The use of "its" indicates that "it" is required in the sub-clause.

I revise my opinion - #c is also incorrect as "its" indicates the committee is regarded as an entity.

 

[riverkid]

First: Happy new year to all of you here
Second:
1) the committee changed its recommendations because_____ the previous ones were to difficult for most people to follow

a) that felt that No. As Anglika said it's wrong.
b) it felt that Okay.
c) they felt it No. If it had been 'they felt that' it would work.
d) felt that no.

The answer is a. but why? I think b is more accurate.

You're right, Belly.

2)
Now that he has started law school, John _____ give up his volunteer work

a) has had No. Needs 'to' to work; 'has had to'.
b) was to It works grammatically but it sounds odd given the initial info.
c) has been No. Can't combine 'has been' with simple form, 'give'.
d) has had to This is the one.

the answer is d. But why? I think it will be more accurate if we say: John gave up his volunteer work. Cannot understand why d here is acceptable

It's not simply a statement of fact, Belly. It's someone's opinion that "John has to [have to] give up his volunteer work". This past time event/finished event is then stated with the present perfect of current relevance --> "John has had to ..."

 

[belly_ttt]

Now that he's started law school, he gave up his volunteer work
or
Now that he's started law school, he gives up his volunteer work
?