he not be...

[MooCow]

From a UK newspaper article:
A judge mistakenly ordered that he not be identified to protect the victim.

Is this correct in both UK and American English?

Thank you

 

[5jj]

It's correct in BrE, but rather formal.

 

[Odessa Dawn]

From a UK newspaper article:
A judge mistakenly ordered that he not be identified to protect the victim.

Is this correct in both UK and American English?

Thank you

It could be helpful if I knew what made OP think it might be incorrect.

​

 

[MooCow]

I'm not very familiar with the formality of English. I'd understand it had it been written as "that he may not be identified..."

I just never heard people say "I wish he not be sold a book." or something like that.

 

[5jj]

As well as being the infinitive form of the verb BE, be is also the present subjunctive form. This form is now normally used in BrE only in very formal contexts. Many people don't use it at all.

 

[SoothingDave]

Sounds perfectly fine to me.

 

[5jj]

It could be helpful if I knew what made OP think it might be incorrect.

​

Well, some native speakers might think it's incorrect. It's an uncommon pattern.

 

[MooCow]

To expand on my reason, it sounds similar to the broken English I often encounter when communicating with my Asian friends. For example, "he not happy" or "I now home".

Thank you all.

 

[MikeNewYork]

To expand on my reason, it sounds similar to the broken English I often encounter when communicating with my Asian friends. For example, "he not happy" or "I now home".

Thank you all.

It is nothing like that. It is perfectly acceptable English, particularly in AmE. I prefer that he not go there. His father demanded that he not participate. This construction is possible after certain verbs.

 

[Tdol]

From a UK newspaper article

Out of interest, which newspaper is it from?

 

[5jj]

The Belfast Telegraph

 

[Tdol]

Thanks- I was just curious as it is a rather formal usage nowadays.

 

[5jj]

Thanks- I was just curious as it is a rather formal usage nowadays.

It sounded a little strange to me, and I can be somewhat formal and (to some) a little old-fashioned in the way I speak and write.

 

[Barb_D]

This is another example of the subjunctive being more prevalent in the US than the UK. I can't even figure out how to write it without the subjunctive. Well, I could, but that's the natural way to write it for me.

 

[Masood_S]

From a UK newspaper article:
A judge mistakenly ordered that he not be identified to protect the victim.

Is this correct in both UK and American English?

Thank you

I don't know about US English, but in UK English the above sentence is fine. As already stated, it is the English subjunctive in use.

 

[Barb_D]

I don't know about US English,

You can write that after reading what Mike and I have already said?

 

[5jj]

In case you did not know that Barb and Mike were speakers of AmE, Masood, you can find the native language of any member by clicking on Member Info below their username.

ps. I have just seen that Barb notes hers as 'American English', but Mike gives just 'English'.

 

[MikeNewYork]

In case you did not know that Barb and Mike were speakers of AmE, Masood, you can find the native language of any member by clicking on Member Info below their username.

ps. I have just seen that Barb notes hers as 'American English', but Mike gives just 'English'.

I changed mine to American English. I registered here years ago and didn't realize that was an option.

 

[Tdol]

I changed mine to American English. I registered here years ago and didn't realize that was an option.

It probably wasn't then. ;-)