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8/12/2019 Apologising and Suggesting
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Accepting apologies:
That's all right.
$ever mind.
%on't apologize. It doesn't matter.
%on't &orry about it.
%on't mention it.
That's (.
I )uite understand.
*ou couldn't help it.
+orget about it.
%on't &orry about it.
$o harm done.
Remember:
,I'd like to apologize, is the short form of ,I &ould like
to apologize,
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Making Suggestions:
Could you please tell me if this use of suggestis grammatically
correct?
The boss suggestedwe left early yesterday.
Thank you in advance for your answer.
Roger Woodhamreplies:
It is perfectly correct, Julie. ou could also say: The
bosssuggested(that) we leave early.
The bosssuggested(that) we should leave early.!ll these forms
are possible with little or no difference in nuance,although the
sub"unctive form, suggested we leave, is a touch moreformal.
suggest / insist / demand / recommendSuggestis one of those
verbs of advice that cannot be followed
by the more usual pattern of object + infinitivebut has to
befollowed by a that-clausewith should + infinitiveor
with past, present or subjunctiveform verbs.Insist, demand and
recommend#among others$ also follow
this pattern, but other verbs that suggest that something
isdesirable or necessary or important follow the object +
infinitivepattern. Compare the following:
I asked him / told him to stop phoning me.I implored him /
begged him to stop phoning me.
I insisted/ demandedthat he should stop phoning me.I insisted/
demandedthat he stopped phoning me.
I insisted/ demandedthat he stop phoning me.
Everyone urgedher to continue with her education for afurther
three years.
Everyone advisedher to continue with her education fora further
three years.
Everybody recommendedthat she should continue withher education
for 3 more years.
Everybody recommendedthat she continued with her
education for 3 more years.Everybody recommendedthat she
continue with hereducation for 3 more years.
Even her granny recommendsthat she continues withher education
for 3 more years.
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important / desirable / essential / vital / imperative
These ad"ectives, when they are used to e%press similar
ideas,are also followed by a that-clausewith should +
infinitiveor
with present, past or subjunctiveform verbs:
It is vitally important (that) you should take this
medication night and morning.It is vitally important (that) you
takethis medication
night and morning without fail. It was desirable (that)sheshould
go to a school
where Italian was taught.It was desirable (that)shego to a
school where
Italian was taught.
It was desirable (that) shewent to a school whereItalian was
taught.
In e%amples like these, you can avoid a that-clause, if youwish
to, by using a for + object + infinitiveconstruction,
which sounds slightly less formal:
It is important for you to take this medicine twice aday.
It was considered desirable for her to attend a school
where Italian was taught.
the subjunctive
The sub"unctive is a special kind of present tense which has
no-sin the third person singular and where the same forms are
used in both present and past situations when we want tosound
slightly formal. The verb to behas a special sub"unctive
form, see below:
The school governors insisted that he resignfrom hispost as
deputy head immediately.
They suggested that rs !iddy beappointed as deputyhead on a
temporary basis"
#$e propose that rs !iddy beappointed as deputyhead until the
end of the school year. It is of vital
importance that she bepresent at the interviews whenother
teachers are selected.#
The doctors recommended that my father remaininhospital for a
further five days and that he returnto
work only when fully fit.
&ote that dois not used in negativesub"unctive
sentences:
They advised that he not return to workuntil fully fit.
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Things to remember about suggestions:
1.The verb "suggest" can be followed by either:
should + verb = I suggest (that) we should go to the
theater.
a verb (in the subjunctive for)= I suggest (that) we go to the
ovies.
!."That" is otional:
"I suggest that we should visit #aris."
"I suggest we should visit #aris."
