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Blossom
Joined: 30 May 2005
Posts: 291
Location: Beijing China
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 Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 6:58 pm Post subject: Welcome you |
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At Beijing Airport there was a sign that said
WELCOME YOU TO BEIJING.
I have also seen a sign that says
WELCOME YOU TO COME AGAIN.
I am told that these are bad English. Why are they wrong? |
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Bob S.
Joined: 29 Apr 2004
Posts: 1767
Location: So. Cal
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| Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 7:41 am Post subject: Re: Welcome you |
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| Blossom wrote: |
At Beijing Airport there was a sign that said
WELCOME YOU TO BEIJING.
I have also seen a sign that says
WELCOME YOU TO COME AGAIN.
I am told that these are bad English. Why are they wrong? |
Yes, they sound strange.
Better options would be:
We Welcome You to Beijing.
or
Welcome to Beijing.
and
Please Come Again.
We Invite You to Come Again.
or simply
Come Again! 
Throughout America it is common to see such signs along the road. On one side to welcome drivers coming into the city, the sign reads "Welcome to ______" and they might add some little slogan like "The Heart of Kansas" or "The Friendliest Town in Oklahoma" or whatever. On the back of the sign for people leaving, the sign would say "Thanks for visiting!" or "Come back and visit us again!" |
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Blossom
Joined: 30 May 2005
Posts: 291
Location: Beijing China
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| Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 1:38 pm Post subject: Welcome you |
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Thank you for your reply.
Yes sir, so many people have told me how they should be written but no one can tell me why they are wrong.
I want to know why the origunal statements are wrong. |
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Bob S.
Joined: 29 Apr 2004
Posts: 1767
Location: So. Cal
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| Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 3:14 pm Post subject: |
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Oh, sorry.
"Welcome" is a verb. Used in a statement, you can say "We welcome you to ___," or "You are welcome to ___." That follows the standard grammar form: Subject (You) - Verb (are welcome).
Making it a greeting (which is a kind of imperative), the subject "you" is understood and dropped.
"Welcome you to __" is bad grammar because it puts the subject (which shouldn't be there at all in an imperative) after the verb. |
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Blossom
Joined: 30 May 2005
Posts: 291
Location: Beijing China
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| Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 3:27 pm Post subject: Welcome you |
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Thanks.
But the explanation is too technicle for me. I will just have to accept that the original use is not right.
But thanks for the try. |
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Bob S.
Joined: 29 Apr 2004
Posts: 1767
Location: So. Cal
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| Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 3:49 pm Post subject: Re: Welcome you |
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| Blossom wrote: |
| But the explanation is too technicle for me. |
Oh,  imperatives are commands.
Take this money. Go to the store. Buy some milk. Do this, do that.
With imperatives, you don't include the subject. It is understood to be "You".
Anybody else have another way to explain? |
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