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ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > Grammar dilemma
Grammar dilemma
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MoodyMoody
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Personally, I wouldn �t use "It was _______ who turned off the lights" anyway. I �d just say, "They are the ones who turned off the light."
Technically, as a predicate nominative, "they" is the more formal answer. However, as Lynne points out, nobody ever says that anymore. The language has left the artificially constructed rule behind. Let it die in peace. |
23 Oct 2012
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ueslteacher
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@ Lynne: thanks for getting back to me. I know it �s colloquial, but what about academic writing, would you be laughed at if you wrote "It was they who..." in a piece of writing, say a term paper or something like that? Sophia |
23 Oct 2012
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pilarmham
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Can a language be artificially constructed, MoodyMoody? I don �t think so... Look at the success of Esperanto.
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23 Oct 2012
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cunliffe
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Thanks! @Sophia, (if you are still following), yes, in that context, you may well be right. As others point out, though, you would probably phrase it differently as it doesn �t seem natural. I �m a firm believer in going with the flow. If it �s what people say, then that is correct. Language is a tool for communication. If we are over correcting because of the grammar rule, then it is the tail wagging the dog. Massive sweeping statements!!! It �s off the forum, I hope I am not picked up about this! |
24 Oct 2012
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Katiapulko
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Thank you all for your answers, they helped me a lot. As we all see language is a very contradictory question, because the grammar says one thing and the spoken language is quite different. Language is always changing and grammar is the last to catch up. So, what should we teach to our students? Because if we say that "it was them" is correct, they �ll puzzle us with their questions "why,why,why... the manuel says one thing and the teacher the other." And how to be with tests? If both options are included, which one should we set as the correct one?
P.S. Sophia, thank you for the video. I�ve watched it already somewhere, but I couldn�t find the link. Thanks again and do you happen to know where I can find the similar ones?
Hugs, Kate.
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24 Oct 2012
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