I think an argument for that the subjunctive with "suggest" is a finite
clause is that it takes a nominative subject pronoun. Nonfinite clauses
take objective case or, with -ing forms, objective or genitive.
I suggest that she leave earlier.
I encouraged her to leave earlier.
I was surprised at her/him/his leaving early.
Herb
-----Original Message-----
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Spruiell, William C
Sent: 2008-04-09 18:56
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Odd sentence
I'd treat that as a subjunctive -- there's the "If I were president"
type, and the "I suggested she be hired" type, and this looks like a
version of the latter, albeit in a nominal that-clause. That's actually
dodging your question a bit, though. For the first type of subjunctive,
one can argue for finiteness on the basis of the fact that the
subjunctive form can occur before the verb, and that kind of "inversion"
is characteristic of finite forms (but auxiliaries, in non-subjunctive
examples). Instead of "If I were president..." one can opt for the
hyperformal "Were I president..." variant.
I can't think of anything similar one can do with the suggest-type
subjunctive that would prove it's finite, unless you're willing to
accept the claim that its presence in a nominal that-clause is
sufficient proof of finiteness. That feels a bit circular, somehow -- it
rests on the assumption that a non-finite that-clause is impossible,
when someone could simply argue that this is an example of just such a
thing.
Bill Spruiell
-----Original Message-----
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Castilleja, Janet
Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2008 5:49 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Odd sentence
Hi
What do you folks make of this sentence? Is the clause that begins
'that the Greek colonies..." finite or non-finite? I think it is
non-finite, but I'm wavering a little.
When they reached the coast of Asia Minor, they insisted that the
Greek colonies of Lydia recognize the Persian Kings as their over- Lords
and pay them a stipulated tax.
Thanks
Janet Castilleja
Heritage University
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