Niue Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
• assured that vs. were sure that
Hi!
I read the following article in a TOEIC book:
“Politicians assured that the government actions to address the growing crisis would bring a positive outcome to the economy. They do not want citizens and the business community to continue to worry about the high price of oil. Governments are demanding that the OPEC-member nations increase their export to lower the prices.” ((Economy RC 1000 – 3, p. 211))
I think “assured” in the first sentence should be corrected into “were sure”.
1. You CAN say “They were sure that the actions would bring a positive outcome.”
2. You can NOT say “They assure that the actions would bring a positive outcome.”
3. You CAN say “They assured him that the actions would bring a positive outcome.”
What do you think? Am I right?
Thanks in advance.
I read the following article in a TOEIC book:
“Politicians assured that the government actions to address the growing crisis would bring a positive outcome to the economy. They do not want citizens and the business community to continue to worry about the high price of oil. Governments are demanding that the OPEC-member nations increase their export to lower the prices.” ((Economy RC 1000 – 3, p. 211))
I think “assured” in the first sentence should be corrected into “were sure”.
1. You CAN say “They were sure that the actions would bring a positive outcome.”
2. You can NOT say “They assure that the actions would bring a positive outcome.”
3. You CAN say “They assured him that the actions would bring a positive outcome.”
What do you think? Am I right?
Thanks in advance.
Top answer
Niue Am I right? I don't think you are right. Assure is a transitive verb; in other words, it can take an object.
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NiueAm I right?I don't think you are right. Assure is a transitive verb; in other words, it can take an object. The object can be a that clause. Just as you can say: I know that he is here, you can say They assure that the actions will bring a positive outcome.
CB
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Sorry, let me correct the second sentence:
2. You can NOT say “They assured that the actions would bring a positive outcome.”
2. You can NOT say “They assured that the actions would bring a positive outcome.”
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Thanks, Cool Breeze.
I don't think ALL transitive verbs can take 'that-clause' as its object, but, in this case, I've realized that 'assure' can take 'that-clause' as its object. Let me explain why I made the wrong assumption (that 'assure' can NOT take 'that-clause' as its object):
I tried to find any example sentence which shows the structre 'assure + that-clause', but I could
I don't think ALL transitive verbs can take 'that-clause' as its object, but, in this case, I've realized that 'assure' can take 'that-clause' as its object. Let me explain why I made the wrong assumption (that 'assure' can NOT take 'that-clause' as its object):
I tried to find any example sentence which shows the structre 'assure + that-clause', but I could
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