| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Chan-Seung Lee
Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Posts: 1032
|
 Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 2:51 am Post subject: Which is correct? |
 |
|
| Quote: |
1)So great have the complaints been that some companies have taken measures to improve the human links between machines and customers.
2)So great have been the complains that some companies have taken measures to improve the human links between machines and customers. |
Which is correct, 1) or 2)? And why?
Thanks. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
CP
Joined: 12 Jun 2006
Posts: 2875
Location: California
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 9:35 am Post subject: |
|
|
Number 1 is better than 2, sounding more natural. Also, I presume you meant "complaints" where you wrote "complains" in sentence 2.
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Chan-Seung Lee
Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Posts: 1032
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 4:10 pm Post subject: To CP |
|
|
Thanks for your kind response.
As you presumed, I meant 'complaints' in sentence 2.
By the way, according to my grammar book which is written by a Korean the sentence 2 is correct rather than the sentence 1, because in order that the adverb 'so great' may be emphasized in front of the sentence the verb 'have been' must be placed in front of the subject 'the complains'.
So getting your opinion as a native speaker and my grammar book by a Korean author together, I think that even though grammatically the sentence 2 is correct, among native speakers the sentence 1 is more natural. If I use the sentence 2, do you think all native speakers understand me? I wonder. Can you give me an help?
Sincerely yours,
Chan-Seung Lee. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
CP
Joined: 12 Jun 2006
Posts: 2875
Location: California
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 4:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Yes, any native speaker will understand you whether you say it like sentence 1 or sentence 2, so don't worry. However, again, sentence 1 sounds better.
If I said, "So happy have I been here that I want to stay forever," any native speaker would understand me and no one would think I had said anything odd.
But if I said, "So happy have been I here that I want to stay forever," using your grammar book's rule, every native speaker would think I had said something odd, and some would correct me.
I would be interested to see what other people say about this, too.
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
