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The following is a part of CNN Student News dated on Oct 18, 2016;

"Hundreds of US troops are involved, though the Pentagon says they're not on the front line. And the forces that are can call in air support when they meet with tough resistance from the terrorist."

In the part of 'that are can call', why are there 2 verbs? Is it correct?

Thanks for your help in advance.

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  • It looks like an error to me.
    – stangdon
    Oct 18, 2016 at 6:39
  • Same as "And the forces that exist are...". "that are" is not really meaningful; it just refers back to the forces. "that be" can also be used this way.
    – user3169
    Oct 18, 2016 at 6:46

2 Answers 2

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Breaking down the to sentences

Hundreds of US troops are involved, though the Pentagon says they're not on the front line
many of the troops involved are not on the front line

And the forces that are can call in air support...
and the ones that are (involved on the front line) can call in air support...

The sentences are references first those troops not on the front line and those who are on the front line. There must be more context somewhere about those not on the front line.

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There is an implicit word here, "The forces that are there, can call in air support.

So you see, the verbs "are" and "can" are not really in any sense "working together"

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