a sentence in which the subject is an antecedent
Posted: 28 May 2010, 03:38
I have a question about a sentence that was included in a textbook for TOEIC exam and mentioned by an EFL learner in a Japanese social networking site.
This is the sentence he posted.
New software _____ that should reduce employee training time.
1) to develop
2) developing
3) is being developed
4) to be developed
Answer: 3)
The reason he posted this form is that he was not familiar with this kind of sentence, in which the relative clause is placed after the predicate.
I felt that this form, in which the subject is dealt as a antecedent, is mainly seen in spoken language and not many in formal writing. So I believe this form is supposed to be used mainly in spoken language.
The other person who posted his opinion insists that this form does not have to do with formality or distinction between spoken/written language.
So, I'm a bit confused and I need to know if this form is used in formal writing or not, since I'm teaching TOEIC or TOEFL writing.
Best,
Miyuki
This is the sentence he posted.
New software _____ that should reduce employee training time.
1) to develop
2) developing
3) is being developed
4) to be developed
Answer: 3)
The reason he posted this form is that he was not familiar with this kind of sentence, in which the relative clause is placed after the predicate.
I felt that this form, in which the subject is dealt as a antecedent, is mainly seen in spoken language and not many in formal writing. So I believe this form is supposed to be used mainly in spoken language.
The other person who posted his opinion insists that this form does not have to do with formality or distinction between spoken/written language.
So, I'm a bit confused and I need to know if this form is used in formal writing or not, since I'm teaching TOEIC or TOEFL writing.
Best,
Miyuki