Can I omit a subject in If-clauses?
I came across a sentence on Cambridge Dictionary. It says
If found guilty, he faces six months in jail.
They omitted "he is" right ?
And can I say
If (my computer is) broken , I will fix it.
And can I also use this grammar with an active sentence
If (you) punch him, he gets hurt
Thanks in advance
sentence conditionals clauses subjects
asked Mar 25 at 8:17
NOBODYNOBODY
133
add a comment |
I came across a sentence on Cambridge Dictionary. It says
If found guilty, he faces six months in jail.
They omitted "he is" right ?
And can I say
If (my computer is) broken , I will fix it.
And can I also use this grammar with an active sentence
If (you) punch him, he gets hurt
Thanks in advance
sentence conditionals clauses subjects
asked Mar 25 at 8:17
NOBODYNOBODY
133
add a comment |
I came across a sentence on Cambridge Dictionary. It says
If found guilty, he faces six months in jail.
They omitted "he is" right ?
And can I say
If (my computer is) broken , I will fix it.
And can I also use this grammar with an active sentence
If (you) punch him, he gets hurt
Thanks in advance
sentence conditionals clauses subjects
asked Mar 25 at 8:17
NOBODYNOBODY
133
I came across a sentence on Cambridge Dictionary. It says
If found guilty, he faces six months in jail.
They omitted "he is" right ?
And can I say
If (my computer is) broken , I will fix it.
And can I also use this grammar with an active sentence
If (you) punch him, he gets hurt
Thanks in advance
sentence conditionals clauses subjects
sentence conditionals clauses subjects
asked Mar 25 at 8:17
NOBODYNOBODY
133
asked Mar 25 at 8:17
NOBODYNOBODY
133
asked Mar 25 at 8:17
NOBODYNOBODY
133
asked Mar 25 at 8:17
NOBODYNOBODY
133
asked Mar 25 at 8:17
NOBODYNOBODY
133
133
add a comment |
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
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oldest
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This kind of ellipsis only works if the omission consists of the subject and a form of the verb 'to be' and the omitted subject appears in the main clause either as the subject or the object.
If (he is) found guilty, he faces six months in jail.
(subject-subject)
If (my computer is) broken, I will fix it. (subject-object)
Of course, the preceding sentence is only intelligible if it is clear from the context what the it is. And some might object that the "if broken" clause is a dangling participle.
The sentence If punch him, he gets hurt does not omit the verb to be. It is both unintelligible and ungrammatical. A grammatical alternative is:
If (he is) punched, he gets angry.
answered Mar 25 at 9:04
ShoeShoe
25.9k43989
I don't think "If (my computer is) broken, I will fix it" is correct, I would say "If broken, it will be fixed (by me)". That is, subct-subject is ok, subject-object is not.
– Rusty Core
Mar 25 at 15:07
@Rusty Core. I agree that the second sentence is somewhat problematic, particularly for those who have a strong aversion to dangling participles. There's a good article on the topic on Slate: slate.com/human-interest/2014/09/…
– Shoe
Mar 25 at 17:36
add a comment |
The first example only works if the context makes it clear who is being talked about.
Fred Bloggs is in court on a charge of [whatever]. If found guilty, he faces six months in jail
The 'If' phrase has to refer to the subject.
My computer is very slow. If broken, it will have to be sent away for repair is grammatical, if not very idiomatic. So, no, your third example doesn't work.
answered Mar 25 at 9:01
Kate BuntingKate Bunting
6,55131518
add a comment |
In the sentence from dictionary, the subject is exact in the second sentence but in your first example, it's not exact what you are talking about. "If broken, i will fix the computer" would be better, i guess
answered Mar 25 at 8:40
Avazbek AminjonovAvazbek Aminjonov
1
1
No, because the 'If' phrase has to refer to the subject of the sentence. Your suggestion literally means "If I am broken, I will fix the computer."
– Kate Bunting
Mar 25 at 8:48
add a comment |
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
This kind of ellipsis only works if the omission consists of the subject and a form of the verb 'to be' and the omitted subject appears in the main clause either as the subject or the object.
If (he is) found guilty, he faces six months in jail.
(subject-subject)
If (my computer is) broken, I will fix it. (subject-object)
Of course, the preceding sentence is only intelligible if it is clear from the context what the it is. And some might object that the "if broken" clause is a dangling participle.
The sentence If punch him, he gets hurt does not omit the verb to be. It is both unintelligible and ungrammatical. A grammatical alternative is:
If (he is) punched, he gets angry.
answered Mar 25 at 9:04
ShoeShoe
25.9k43989
I don't think "If (my computer is) broken, I will fix it" is correct, I would say "If broken, it will be fixed (by me)". That is, subct-subject is ok, subject-object is not.
– Rusty Core
Mar 25 at 15:07
@Rusty Core. I agree that the second sentence is somewhat problematic, particularly for those who have a strong aversion to dangling participles. There's a good article on the topic on Slate: slate.com/human-interest/2014/09/…
– Shoe
Mar 25 at 17:36
add a comment |
This kind of ellipsis only works if the omission consists of the subject and a form of the verb 'to be' and the omitted subject appears in the main clause either as the subject or the object.
If (he is) found guilty, he faces six months in jail.
(subject-subject)
If (my computer is) broken, I will fix it. (subject-object)
Of course, the preceding sentence is only intelligible if it is clear from the context what the it is. And some might object that the "if broken" clause is a dangling participle.
The sentence If punch him, he gets hurt does not omit the verb to be. It is both unintelligible and ungrammatical. A grammatical alternative is:
If (he is) punched, he gets angry.
answered Mar 25 at 9:04
ShoeShoe
25.9k43989
I don't think "If (my computer is) broken, I will fix it" is correct, I would say "If broken, it will be fixed (by me)". That is, subct-subject is ok, subject-object is not.
– Rusty Core
Mar 25 at 15:07
@Rusty Core. I agree that the second sentence is somewhat problematic, particularly for those who have a strong aversion to dangling participles. There's a good article on the topic on Slate: slate.com/human-interest/2014/09/…
– Shoe
Mar 25 at 17:36
add a comment |
This kind of ellipsis only works if the omission consists of the subject and a form of the verb 'to be' and the omitted subject appears in the main clause either as the subject or the object.
If (he is) found guilty, he faces six months in jail.
(subject-subject)
If (my computer is) broken, I will fix it. (subject-object)
Of course, the preceding sentence is only intelligible if it is clear from the context what the it is. And some might object that the "if broken" clause is a dangling participle.
The sentence If punch him, he gets hurt does not omit the verb to be. It is both unintelligible and ungrammatical. A grammatical alternative is:
If (he is) punched, he gets angry.
answered Mar 25 at 9:04
ShoeShoe
25.9k43989
This kind of ellipsis only works if the omission consists of the subject and a form of the verb 'to be' and the omitted subject appears in the main clause either as the subject or the object.
If (he is) found guilty, he faces six months in jail.
(subject-subject)
If (my computer is) broken, I will fix it. (subject-object)
Of course, the preceding sentence is only intelligible if it is clear from the context what the it is. And some might object that the "if broken" clause is a dangling participle.
The sentence If punch him, he gets hurt does not omit the verb to be. It is both unintelligible and ungrammatical. A grammatical alternative is:
If (he is) punched, he gets angry.
answered Mar 25 at 9:04
ShoeShoe
25.9k43989
edited Mar 25 at 9:10
answered Mar 25 at 9:04
ShoeShoe
25.9k43989
answered Mar 25 at 9:04
ShoeShoe
25.9k43989
answered Mar 25 at 9:04
ShoeShoe
25.9k43989
25.9k43989
I don't think "If (my computer is) broken, I will fix it" is correct, I would say "If broken, it will be fixed (by me)". That is, subct-subject is ok, subject-object is not.
– Rusty Core
Mar 25 at 15:07
@Rusty Core. I agree that the second sentence is somewhat problematic, particularly for those who have a strong aversion to dangling participles. There's a good article on the topic on Slate: slate.com/human-interest/2014/09/…
– Shoe
Mar 25 at 17:36
add a comment |
I don't think "If (my computer is) broken, I will fix it" is correct, I would say "If broken, it will be fixed (by me)". That is, subct-subject is ok, subject-object is not.
– Rusty Core
Mar 25 at 15:07
@Rusty Core. I agree that the second sentence is somewhat problematic, particularly for those who have a strong aversion to dangling participles. There's a good article on the topic on Slate: slate.com/human-interest/2014/09/…
– Shoe
Mar 25 at 17:36
I don't think "If (my computer is) broken, I will fix it" is correct, I would say "If broken, it will be fixed (by me)". That is, subct-subject is ok, subject-object is not.
– Rusty Core
Mar 25 at 15:07
I don't think "If (my computer is) broken, I will fix it" is correct, I would say "If broken, it will be fixed (by me)". That is, subct-subject is ok, subject-object is not.
– Rusty Core
Mar 25 at 15:07
@Rusty Core. I agree that the second sentence is somewhat problematic, particularly for those who have a strong aversion to dangling participles. There's a good article on the topic on Slate: slate.com/human-interest/2014/09/…
– Shoe
Mar 25 at 17:36
@Rusty Core. I agree that the second sentence is somewhat problematic, particularly for those who have a strong aversion to dangling participles. There's a good article on the topic on Slate: slate.com/human-interest/2014/09/…
– Shoe
Mar 25 at 17:36
add a comment |
The first example only works if the context makes it clear who is being talked about.
Fred Bloggs is in court on a charge of [whatever]. If found guilty, he faces six months in jail
The 'If' phrase has to refer to the subject.
My computer is very slow. If broken, it will have to be sent away for repair is grammatical, if not very idiomatic. So, no, your third example doesn't work.
answered Mar 25 at 9:01
Kate BuntingKate Bunting
6,55131518
add a comment |
The first example only works if the context makes it clear who is being talked about.
Fred Bloggs is in court on a charge of [whatever]. If found guilty, he faces six months in jail
The 'If' phrase has to refer to the subject.
My computer is very slow. If broken, it will have to be sent away for repair is grammatical, if not very idiomatic. So, no, your third example doesn't work.
answered Mar 25 at 9:01
Kate BuntingKate Bunting
6,55131518
add a comment |
The first example only works if the context makes it clear who is being talked about.
Fred Bloggs is in court on a charge of [whatever]. If found guilty, he faces six months in jail
The 'If' phrase has to refer to the subject.
My computer is very slow. If broken, it will have to be sent away for repair is grammatical, if not very idiomatic. So, no, your third example doesn't work.
answered Mar 25 at 9:01
Kate BuntingKate Bunting
6,55131518
The first example only works if the context makes it clear who is being talked about.
Fred Bloggs is in court on a charge of [whatever]. If found guilty, he faces six months in jail
The 'If' phrase has to refer to the subject.
My computer is very slow. If broken, it will have to be sent away for repair is grammatical, if not very idiomatic. So, no, your third example doesn't work.
answered Mar 25 at 9:01
Kate BuntingKate Bunting
6,55131518
answered Mar 25 at 9:01
Kate BuntingKate Bunting
6,55131518
answered Mar 25 at 9:01
Kate BuntingKate Bunting
6,55131518
answered Mar 25 at 9:01
Kate BuntingKate Bunting
6,55131518
6,55131518
add a comment |
add a comment |
In the sentence from dictionary, the subject is exact in the second sentence but in your first example, it's not exact what you are talking about. "If broken, i will fix the computer" would be better, i guess
answered Mar 25 at 8:40
Avazbek AminjonovAvazbek Aminjonov
1
1
No, because the 'If' phrase has to refer to the subject of the sentence. Your suggestion literally means "If I am broken, I will fix the computer."
– Kate Bunting
Mar 25 at 8:48
add a comment |
In the sentence from dictionary, the subject is exact in the second sentence but in your first example, it's not exact what you are talking about. "If broken, i will fix the computer" would be better, i guess
answered Mar 25 at 8:40
Avazbek AminjonovAvazbek Aminjonov
1
1
No, because the 'If' phrase has to refer to the subject of the sentence. Your suggestion literally means "If I am broken, I will fix the computer."
– Kate Bunting
Mar 25 at 8:48
add a comment |
In the sentence from dictionary, the subject is exact in the second sentence but in your first example, it's not exact what you are talking about. "If broken, i will fix the computer" would be better, i guess
answered Mar 25 at 8:40
Avazbek AminjonovAvazbek Aminjonov
1
In the sentence from dictionary, the subject is exact in the second sentence but in your first example, it's not exact what you are talking about. "If broken, i will fix the computer" would be better, i guess
answered Mar 25 at 8:40
Avazbek AminjonovAvazbek Aminjonov
1
answered Mar 25 at 8:40
Avazbek AminjonovAvazbek Aminjonov
1
answered Mar 25 at 8:40
Avazbek AminjonovAvazbek Aminjonov
1
answered Mar 25 at 8:40
Avazbek AminjonovAvazbek Aminjonov
1
1
1
No, because the 'If' phrase has to refer to the subject of the sentence. Your suggestion literally means "If I am broken, I will fix the computer."
– Kate Bunting
Mar 25 at 8:48
add a comment |
1
No, because the 'If' phrase has to refer to the subject of the sentence. Your suggestion literally means "If I am broken, I will fix the computer."
– Kate Bunting
Mar 25 at 8:48
1
1
No, because the 'If' phrase has to refer to the subject of the sentence. Your suggestion literally means "If I am broken, I will fix the computer."
– Kate Bunting
Mar 25 at 8:48
No, because the 'If' phrase has to refer to the subject of the sentence. Your suggestion literally means "If I am broken, I will fix the computer."
– Kate Bunting
Mar 25 at 8:48
add a comment |
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