"to have" and Subject form of pronoun.

Question

Does the verb to have takes subject form of pronoun after it in any exceptional case. I read the following sentence somewhere. I have never seen any such construction ever but still I am curious about it.

It must have been she at the door.

GB

Marius Hancu · Accepted Answer

Yes, the "subjective/subject" form is required here:
http://www.800score.com/content/guidec4view1V4f.html

Clive · Answer

Hi,

It must have been she at the door.
You'll rarely, quite probably never, hear anyone say this.

Best wishes, Clive

Marius Hancu · Answer

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geus.seCFFujYBr_9XNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE4MnVybjk1BGNvbG8DZQRsA1dTMQRwb3MDMzIEc2VjA3NyBHZ0aWQDT09QNV8xMjA-/SIG=1226ornjc/EXP=1159907884/**http%3a//www.readbookonline.net/readOnLine/2197/
It must have been she who had thought of them.
The idea would never have occurred to a man.

BBC - Get Writing - - A3436788 - The Wall

Maya thought that it must have been she who spoke and she covered her ...

In The New York Times:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DEEDB1738F933A25756C0A967948260

.A needlework virtuoso, the author embellished the pieces with embroidered leaves, flowers, animals and geometric patterns in many different stitches. It may have been she who painted the rather Japanese-looking scenes of birds perched in trees on some of the lighter colored sections.

Clive · Answer

Hi Marius,

My opinion was that you'd seldom 'hear anyone say this'.

Do you know the publication date of Jerome's short story?

Best wishes, Clive

Marius Hancu · Answer

Hello, Clive:

The Street of the Blank Wall
Dodd, Mead & Co.
1916
http://www.jeromekjerome.com/works.htm

Yoong Liat · Answer

Clive
Hi Marius,

My opinion was that you'd seldom 'hear anyone say this'.

Do you know the publication date of Jerome's short story?

Best wishes, Clive

I agree with Clive. According to traditional grammar, 'It is she." But in modern English, it should 'It is her."

Marius wrote: It must have been she who had thought of them. In this sentence, 'she' is required. Similarly, It's I who did it." But if somebody asks me "Who's that?", my reply will be "It's me."

Clive · Answer

Hi Marius,

The Street of the Blank Wall
Dodd, Mead & Co.
1916
http://www.jeromekjerome.com/works.htm

Thanks for looking this up. I think it's helpful to tell learners when we are giving examples of English that are almost 100 years old.

Best wishes, Clive

Yoong Liat · Answer

Hi Marius

I agree with Clive. As I said earlier "It is I" is the traditional way. In modern English, "It's me" is correct.

Anonymous · Answer

Well can someone will explain why should we use subjunctive mood here. Although must show strong believe and intention but i've barely read or heard anyone using subjunctive with "must".
Please explain
GB

Grammarian-bot · Answer

-

"to have" and Subject form of pronoun.

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬