Korean Job Discussion Forums

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

How would you explain to someone how this is wrong?

"he receive a life sentence"

I know its wrong.. and explained it would have to be '-ed' or a 'will receive'.. but having a tough time explaining the rule on when this can be used in the present tense.. if it can at all.

Pyongshin Sangja · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: I love baby!

Ummm, it has to be "receives" when referring to "he." It would be ok, if it were preceded by a subordinate clause like: "An offender convicted of murder receives a life sentence." Either that or its someone who receives a life sentence every day of their life. That's a hard life.

desultude · Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 3:24 am Post subject:

Just so.

Present simple (receives) is used for habitual things or reported speech. I doubt the this is habitual, but your example is perfect for reported speech.

man of the year · Joined: 26 Apr 2005 Location: SeoulCity... Posts: 80

zappadelta · Joined: 31 Aug 2004

This can't be a serious post

Pyongshin Sangja · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: I love baby!

Yes it can

Kimchieluver · Joined: 02 Mar 2005

Gee, I sometimes want to take a log of every person who criticizes a post for not being grammatically correct. And then when they make a typo or a mistake on a forum, well.....

I don't know.

I beleieve it's like this:

He
SHe - gets likes takes receives

They You I - receive

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

guangho · Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 5:00 am Post subject:

He received a life sentence- meaning that in a past tense, as the judgement has already been passed.

He will receive a life sentence- Will, in the future receive a life sentence.

He receive is incorrect because the only possibilties are that he will (future) or has (past) been sentenced. It can, perhaps be present continous (He is receiving a life sentence, although that is uncommon) but the usage "he receive" does not fall into any acceptable paradigm.

Or you could just do what I do- say it is a matter of style and that's that. Cool

Kimchieluver · Joined: 02 Mar 2005

Real Reality · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

Do some of you need a life sentence for trying to teach English?

(or is it?)

Is teaching English like receiving a life sentence?

FUBAR · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: The Y.C.

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

Who is he?

And why will he receive a life sentence anyway?

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

"He receive a life sentence" is the sentence my student wrote using the word 'receive' (or any of its forms) in a sentence.

Of course its grammatically correct to use 'he receives' for present tense.

But if my student wants to use it as 'he receives a life sentence'.. can you think of any time when it would be used in a sentence in this way? I would think realistically it would have to be either past or future.

I suggested the 'he is receiving a life sentence' as a possible present tense suggestion.. but she really wanted to know more about the 'he receives' and if its at all possible.

jazblanc77 · Joined: 22 Feb 2004

"He receives" would imply a habitual or recurring action OR that the action is part of a story being told. If it is not part of a story in the second person or it doesn't happen more than once then the style above is incorrect and you would have to use either a past or future tense.