Tuesday, September 25, 2007

EDITOR J. ALFRED PRUFROCK REIFIES

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2007
EDITOR J. ALFRED PRUFROCK REIFIES

Lee writes here at http://grammargrinch.blogspot.com/2007/09/editor-j-alfred-prufrock-reifies.html:

>What do they think would constitute victory in Iraq, NO COMMA: IT SPLITS A COMPOUND DIRECT OBJECT. and how, precisely, REDUNDANT ADVERB do they intend to achieve it?<


Rubbish. There are two independent clauses.

What do they think would constitute a victory in Iraq
Verb – “do think”
Object of “do think” – what would constitute a victory in Iraq

How, precisely, do they intend to achieve it
Verb – “do intend”
Object of “do intend” – to achieve

And old Vinegartits could tell you that you need a comma to separate two independent clauses.