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 Post subject: YO, grammar police! Little help?
PostPosted: Wed Feb 23, 2005 6:32 pm 
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I'm having trouble with the word "that" and when and how to use it. For example, this sentence: "I had a dream that you were a midget." Do you need "that", or can you skip right to "you"? Or would you use another word altogehter?

Thanks for any help! :oops:


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 Post subject: Re: YO, grammar police! Little help?
PostPosted: Wed Feb 23, 2005 6:34 pm 
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Logan Wrote:
I'm having trouble with the word "that" and when and how to use it. For example, this sentence: "I had a dream that you were a midget." Do you need "that", or can you skip right to "you"? Or would you use another word altogehter?

Thanks for any help! :oops:


If you don't use "that", you'll have to use a comma or separate the two phrases with a period, which would then make no sense. Oh well...


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PostPosted: Wed Feb 23, 2005 6:36 pm 
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or, "i had a dream in which you were a midget."


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PostPosted: Wed Feb 23, 2005 6:39 pm 
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or to be concise, try "i dreamt you were a midget."


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PostPosted: Wed Feb 23, 2005 6:41 pm 
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katie, a princess Wrote:
or to be concise, try "i dreamt you were a midget."

And of course "dreamed" is totally and completely off limits, correct?

F the public school system for failing me like this! or maybe I've failed them. :( But no worries, Obner to the rescue, thanks guys!


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PostPosted: Wed Feb 23, 2005 6:44 pm 
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Logan Wrote:
katie, a princess Wrote:
or to be concise, try "i dreamt you were a midget."

And of course "dreamed" is totally and completely off limits, correct?

F the public school system for failing me like this! or maybe I've failed them. :( But no worries, Obner to the rescue, thanks guys!


"Dreamed" is acceptable.

I'm all over "the that-which clause".

Colloquially, your sentence without the "that" works, but it is officially incorrect.


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PostPosted: Wed Feb 23, 2005 6:44 pm 
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Logan Wrote:
And of course "dreamed" is totally and completely off limits, correct?


i don't use "dreamed" nearly as much as "dreamt." i've always kinda thought of the former as the plural, but i don't know why. is that even correct?


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PostPosted: Wed Feb 23, 2005 6:58 pm 
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In your example, the "that" is there regardless, express or implied. If you think about it, though, the "I had a dream that" phrase, though quite common, is a bit odd. For example, you wouldn't say "Steven Spielberg made a movie that aliens landed on earth." Similar situations, but with dreams the "dream that" usage is acceptable. Curiouser and curiouser.


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PostPosted: Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:11 pm 
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katie, a princess Wrote:
"i dreamt you were a midget."


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PostPosted: Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:18 pm 
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HaqDiesel Wrote:
you wouldn't say "Steven Spielberg made a movie that aliens landed on earth."

But you would say "Steven Spielberg made a movie that was really manipulative and shallow."


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PostPosted: Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:28 pm 
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katie, a princess Wrote:
or to be concise, try "i dreamt you were a midget."


Bingo. Active voice trumps passive every time.

For passive, "dream in which" or "where" is arguably better style than "that".

What're you doing dreaming about midgets, anyway?


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PostPosted: Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:30 pm 
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Except "dreamt" is a silly, antiquated word that lookes lyke Shakespearean Eanglishe.


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PostPosted: Wed Feb 23, 2005 7:38 pm 
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HaqDiesel Wrote:
Except "dreamt" is a silly, antiquated word that lookes lyke Shakespearean Eanglishe.


That's what makes it so indie.


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PostPosted: Wed Feb 23, 2005 8:28 pm 
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I dreamt that I met Haq and Katie in a supermarket and then we had dinner at my caravan.

And the weird thing is I DON'T EVEN LIVE IN A CARAVAN!!

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PostPosted: Wed Feb 23, 2005 10:40 pm 
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Radcliffe Wrote:
HaqDiesel Wrote:
you wouldn't say "Steven Spielberg made a movie that aliens landed on earth."

But you would say "Steven Spielberg made a movie that was really manipulative and shallow."


:cheers:


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PostPosted: Thu Feb 24, 2005 2:46 am 
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more concise

Quote:
I dream-midgeted you

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