At 10:52 PM 2/16/2008, Peter Adams wrote: >Meanwhile, back to Nancy's original sentence: > Molly hates Fred isn't coming to the party. >Does anyone think this is an improvement: > Molly hates it that Fred isn't coming to the party. DD: Yes, I do. The first grates on my ears, so to say. I would say, " Molly hates Fred's not coming to the party." But then I am an ardent pedant, up with which you will not put. To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/