Comments on: The Dummy Subject http://www.dailywritingtips.com/the-dummy-subject/ Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:00:10 -0600 hourly 1 By: Adelie http://www.dailywritingtips.com/the-dummy-subject/comment-page-1/#comment-126578 Adelie Thu, 11 Jun 2009 01:06:36 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/the-dummy-subject/#comment-126578 Claire, I think the suggestion is that the sentance would be clearer if you just left out the dummy subject and said "In the west of the country IS a large town or a town called Bristol." the word 'there' is redundant. However, I know Il y a and C'e are very normal ways to speak French/Italian. Possibly, in academic writing, Il y a or C'e may be used less? To be honest, spoken English is often verbose and I don't think dummy subjects are an issue. Adelie Claire, I think the suggestion is that the sentance would be clearer if you just left out the dummy subject and said “In the west of the country IS a large town or a town called Bristol.” the word ‘there’ is redundant. However, I know Il y a and C’e are very normal ways to speak French/Italian. Possibly, in academic writing, Il y a or C’e may be used less? To be honest, spoken English is often verbose and I don’t think dummy subjects are an issue.

Adelie

]]> By: Claire Pinks http://www.dailywritingtips.com/the-dummy-subject/comment-page-1/#comment-55934 Claire Pinks Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:55:54 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/the-dummy-subject/#comment-55934 Hi again, I ask this because I am teaching Italian students who seem to be able to use a proper noun in the above example. Claire Hi again,
I ask this because I am teaching Italian students who seem to be able to use a proper noun in the above example.
Claire

]]> By: Claire Pinks http://www.dailywritingtips.com/the-dummy-subject/comment-page-1/#comment-55932 Claire Pinks Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:54:35 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/the-dummy-subject/#comment-55932 Thanks for the advice about the use of dummy subjects. I have a question: Is it true to say that you can't use the existential "there" as a dummy subject with a proper noun? If so, why? I mean you can say: "In the west of the country there is a large town", but you can't say "In the west of the country there is Bristol". Thank you, Claire Thanks for the advice about the use of dummy subjects. I have a question: Is it true to say that you can’t use the existential “there” as a dummy subject with a proper noun? If so, why? I mean you can say: “In the west of the country there is a large town”, but you can’t say “In the west of the country there is Bristol”.
Thank you,
Claire

]]> By: Maeve http://www.dailywritingtips.com/the-dummy-subject/comment-page-1/#comment-987 Maeve Mon, 13 Aug 2007 14:35:02 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/the-dummy-subject/#comment-987 Not all English verbs have complete conjugations. Some, like the "weather verbs," belong to a class that incudes what are called "defective" or "anomalous" verbs. "It rains" and "It's snowing" are the only possible ways to make such statements. These "weather verbs" are <b>impersonal verbs</b>. Not all English verbs have complete conjugations.

Some, like the “weather verbs,” belong to a class that incudes what are called “defective” or “anomalous” verbs.

“It rains” and “It’s snowing” are the only possible ways to make such statements. These “weather verbs” are impersonal verbs.

]]> By: Erin http://www.dailywritingtips.com/the-dummy-subject/comment-page-1/#comment-981 Erin Sun, 12 Aug 2007 21:43:48 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/the-dummy-subject/#comment-981 You're right, Bill. That's one that does seem to be pretty universal! You’re right, Bill. That’s one that does seem to be pretty universal!

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