Hi would you tell me where we can emit the verb ''be'' in nominal sentences? For example, in the below sentence, it is grammatically okay we drop the verb ''is'' after ''its plight''! I'm confused whe

Mona

Hi would you tell me where we can emit the verb ''be'' in nominal sentences? For example, in the below sentence, it is grammatically okay we drop the verb ''is'' after ''its plight''! I'm confused where we are allowed to change a sentence in this way?! The sentence: The suffering polar bear has become a symbol of a warming world, its plight IS a warning that the clock is ticking. The sentence without the verb: The suffering polar bear has become a symbol of a warming world, its plight a warning that the clock is ticking.

Nov 26, 2020 9:54 AM

Answers · 18

Sorry to disagree but I’m a native speaker of English and this is not a regional distinction but rather a difference in style. The first is more straight forward, although personally I would have used “has become a symbol” rather than is. The second is slightly more dramatic. Also, you can’t have “a grammar” in English. It’s just grammar.

November 26, 2020

Hi Mona! I'm Karla and I'm English and Spanish teacher, so both of the sentences are correctly, the first one it's a grammar from England and the second sentence is more like an American grammar.

November 26, 2020

"The suffering polar bear has become a symbol of a warming world, its plight IS a warning that the clock is ticking." This is completely incorrect because you cannot separate two complete sentences with a comma. It's a run-on sentence.

November 26, 2020