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 yesterday
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 yesterday
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 yesterday
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 yesterday
NOBODYNOBODY
133
asked yesterday
NOBODYNOBODY
133
asked yesterday
NOBODYNOBODY
133
asked yesterday
NOBODYNOBODY
133
asked yesterday
NOBODYNOBODY
133
133
add a comment |
add a comment |
3 Answers
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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 yesterday
ShoeShoe
25.8k43889
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
19 hours ago
@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
17 hours ago
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 yesterday
Kate BuntingKate Bunting
6,51331518
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 yesterday
Avazbek AminjonovAvazbek Aminjonov
1
New contributor
Avazbek Aminjonov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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
yesterday
add a comment |
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
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active
oldest
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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 yesterday
ShoeShoe
25.8k43889
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
19 hours ago
@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
17 hours ago
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 yesterday
ShoeShoe
25.8k43889
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
19 hours ago
@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
17 hours ago
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 yesterday
ShoeShoe
25.8k43889
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 yesterday
ShoeShoe
25.8k43889
edited yesterday
answered yesterday
ShoeShoe
25.8k43889
answered yesterday
ShoeShoe
25.8k43889
answered yesterday
ShoeShoe
25.8k43889
25.8k43889
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
19 hours ago
@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
17 hours ago
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
19 hours ago
@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
17 hours ago
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
19 hours ago
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
19 hours ago
@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
17 hours ago
@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
17 hours ago
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 yesterday
Kate BuntingKate Bunting
6,51331518
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 yesterday
Kate BuntingKate Bunting
6,51331518
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 yesterday
Kate BuntingKate Bunting
6,51331518
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 yesterday
Kate BuntingKate Bunting
6,51331518
answered yesterday
Kate BuntingKate Bunting
6,51331518
answered yesterday
Kate BuntingKate Bunting
6,51331518
answered yesterday
Kate BuntingKate Bunting
6,51331518
6,51331518
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 yesterday
Avazbek AminjonovAvazbek Aminjonov
1
New contributor
Avazbek Aminjonov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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
yesterday
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 yesterday
Avazbek AminjonovAvazbek Aminjonov
1
New contributor
Avazbek Aminjonov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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
yesterday
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 yesterday
Avazbek AminjonovAvazbek Aminjonov
1
New contributor
Avazbek Aminjonov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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 yesterday
Avazbek AminjonovAvazbek Aminjonov
1
New contributor
Avazbek Aminjonov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered yesterday
Avazbek AminjonovAvazbek Aminjonov
1
New contributor
Avazbek Aminjonov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered yesterday
Avazbek AminjonovAvazbek Aminjonov
1
answered yesterday
Avazbek AminjonovAvazbek Aminjonov
1
1
New contributor
Avazbek Aminjonov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Avazbek Aminjonov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Avazbek Aminjonov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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
yesterday
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
yesterday
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
yesterday
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
yesterday
add a comment |
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