insist

[irinaofr]

1) I insisted that they moved to London.
2) I insisted on their moving to London.

Are both right, please?

Thanks.

 

[GoesStation]

In AmE, the first should be I insisted [that] they move to London. BrE speakers frequently use the indicative here, where AmE speakers use the subjunctive.

The second is right anywhere.

 

[irinaofr]

Interesting....I would have assumed that it would be the other way round. Normally BrE is more strict with the usage of grammar.

Thanks.

 

[bhaisahab]

I would use "move" in 1).

 

[irinaofr]

Are you from the UK?

Sure, so it is like with 'suggest'.
Thanks.

 

[GoesStation]

Interesting....I would have assumed that it would be the other way round. Normally BrE is more strict with the usage of grammar.

Thanks.

The subjunctive has been fading from English for a long time. The language has tended to change faster at home in Britain than in the other countries to which it has spread, so it's not surprising that the disappearance of the subjunctive is more advanced in Britain.

 

[bhaisahab]

Are you from the UK?

Sure, so it is like with 'suggest'.
Thanks.

Yes, I am fromthe UK.

 

[irinaofr]

I know that there are certain things (words, phrases) which are just American, but frown upon by Brits.
I'll mention just a few:
1) I'm loving it.
2) the friquent use of 'get' instead of an appropriate word
3) fix (instead of an appropriate word)
4) wanna/gonna....

Plenty actually. I am surprised that you asked
Where are you from?

 

[GoesStation]

Brits certainly say gonna quite a lot. I'd guess they use it as often as Americans do. I wouldn't even be surprised to hear it coming from some of the younger members of the royal family, or even from Prince Charles.

Wanna has somehow entered international English. I see it all the time in internet posts by non-native Anglophones. I can't help gritting my teeth each time I see it, though international English users certainly have the same right to use it as anyone else.

I'm not sure about your other examples.

 

[irinaofr]

Piscean, will you say "I'm loving it"?
Yes, I can see now where everyone is from.

I read in an English language book about more frequent use of "get" and "fix" by Americans. I didn't make this up myself. I wouldn't able to.

 

[Barb_D]

I am so eager to learn why "get" and "fix" are inappropriate words.
Please do enlighten me!

 

[irinaofr]

I am so eager to learn why "get" and "fix" are inappropriate words.
Please do enlighten me!

It is not what I said. I didn't say that those words were inappropriate. But that I read that Americans are prone to

"2) the friquent use of 'get' instead of an appropriate word
3) fix (instead of an appropriate word)"

Among the examples I remember was : I'll fix dinner (instead of 'cook'), etc

 

[GoesStation]

I think you mean instead of another appropriate word. "I'll fix dinner" is perfectly appropriate. An English-American friend of mine says that frequently. Her usage has shifted somewhat towards American habits in her forty years here, so it's possible she adopted "fix" after arriving on our inappropriate shores.

An idiom used in some American dialects, fixing to do ​something, is a near-future construction which is not part of standard English.

 

[Barb_D]

It is not what I said. I didn't say that those words were inappropriate. But that I read that Americans are prone to

"2) the friquent use of 'get' instead of an appropriate word
3) fix (instead of an appropriate word)"

Among the examples I remember was : I'll fix dinner (instead of 'cook'), etc

By saying a word is used instead of "an appropriate word" you are saying the word that was used was inappropriate.
note: frequent

 

[irinaofr]

I'll fix dinner (cook).
I'll fix the washing machine (repair).
I'll fix my hair (comb, style).

I get tired (become).
I get emails (receive).
I get it (understand).

Get/fix -are appropriate words, sure. But ....I believe that it is clearer from my examples what I am trying to say (than my humble attempt to explain it in words).

 

[emsr2d2]

In BrE, we're more likely to say "I'll make dinner" rather than "I'll cook dinner". Would you have called "make" inappropriate too?

 

[irinaofr]

Cook dinner/make dinner- I though that both could be said appropriately. Glad that you find it funny, though I am not your equal (language wise). I will loose this battle before I even start it, that's for sure.
I was quoting in my own words what I read in English language book about 'get' and 'fix'. That's it.

 

[GoesStation]

I'll fix dinner (cook).
I'll fix the washing machine (repair).
I'll fix my hair (comb, style).

I get tired (become).
I get emails (receive).
I get it (understand).

Get/fix -are appropriate words, sure. But ....I believe that it is clearer from my examples what I am trying to say (than my humble attempt to explain it in words).

I appreciate your efforts to communicate. In this case, though, I think the grammar book was unnecessarily disparaging perfectly good verbs.

It's true that the synonyms you cite may sometimes be more precise. I would not say they are better than the verbs they could replace. The reader will get exactly the same message from the general verbs or the more specific replacements.