Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[wwg139580]

Hello,

Can you tell me why one says " ......like a dream come true" but not "......like a dream comes true"?

Thank you.

[2006]

I can't give you a very good expanation but I will try, and maybe someone will add to it.
"like a dream comes true" is not suitable because that phrase describes a process, and we want to describe a result.
A more easily understandable way to describe a result would be to say "like a dream that came true".
"like a dream come true" means "like a dream that came true". I guess the best answer I can give you is to say that it is a 'nongrammatical set phrase'.

Does anyone have a better explanation?

[wwg139580]

Thank you very much,2006. I hope that it is as you explained: it is a set phrase. But I still think it is a sentence which should be formed grammatically. I don't know if someone can give more help.
Thanks again,2006.

[CP]

I think it might be a use of a past participle.

It is a dream that has come true. It is a come-true dream, as it were.

That was a deal gone bad. She was a woman scorned. It was a battle hard fought and dearly bought.
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[wwg139580]

Thank you very much for your answer. It sounds quite reasonable to me.

Best wishes