Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Kirte]

Dear Teachers,

Hello.

I just wonder the following four sentences are grammatically correct or not. Please pay attention to the negative polarity item "ever"

1) The farmer has ever planted trees.
2) The farmer who has ever planted trees smokes.

3) The farmers have ever planted trees.
4) The farmers who have ever planted trees smoke.

If these are not grammatical, coud you please explain why?

Thanks in advance and have a nice day.

[mescalero]

Kirke:

Unfortunately, I don't think that any of these sentences are correct. "Ever" is simply extra and confusing in this context. I would say something like the following if you wanted to say it in the positive:

1) The farmer has planted trees.
2) The farmer who has planted trees smokes.

3) The farmers have planted trees.
4) The farmers who have planted trees smoke.

Of course, if you want to say the negative:

1) The farmer has never planted trees.
2) The farmer who has never planted trees smokes.

3) The farmers have never planted trees.
4) The farmers who have never planted trees smoke.

One more thing, it is bit difficult when the subjective (farmer) and verb (smokes) are so far apart in the sentence. If possible keep them together. Perhaps,

The farmer smokes, and he has never planted trees.

Hope that helps. Good Luck!
_________________
- Mike

Open English World
http://www.openenglishworld.com

[lotus]

Hi Kirte,

1) The farmer has (n)ever planted trees.
2) The farmer who has (n)ever planted trees smokes.

3) The farmers have (n)ever planted trees.
4) The farmers who have (n)ever planted trees smoke.

What you've transcribed appears to have a typographical error. The word should be "never."

The lesson is trying to show you that "has" follows the singular noun (with the exception of "I"), and that "have" follows the plural noun. It is also trying to show you that the verb (smoke) has an "s" if the preceding noun is singular, and does not have an "s" if the preceding noun is plural.

farmers smoke
farmer smokes

He's how we use the verb "have":

I have (first person singular)
We have (first person plural)
You have (second person singular or plural)
They have (third person plural)

He has (third person singular)
She has (third person singular)
It has (third person singular)


--lotus

[Kirte]

Thank you very much. Very helpful.