3

Does the following sentence sound correct in the term of grammar?

"Subscriptions were enabled and auto-renew options disabled."

There is no verb in the second part of the compund sentence. However, this verb can be easily understood from the context.

Is it still better to say: "Subscriptions were enabled and auto-renew options were disabled"? Or maybe we can use a dash instead of the verb ("Subscriptions were enabled and auto-renew options – disabled"?

Please advise.

Improve this question
2
  • 1
    Either way. The omitted verb sounds better and demonstrates a better understanding of usage.
    – EllieK
    Dec 29, 2017 at 20:00
  • A separate question is whether you want to describe an action taken or the result of an action taken, a state.
    – TimR
    Dec 29, 2017 at 20:02

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
3

No, do not use a dash there, but the two other ways you have written it above are fine. You can say it and write it with the second "were" or you can leave it omitted as it is considered implicit in the second coordinating clause. Remember it's in the passive voice; therefore, the past participle "disabled" is really acting as though it were the main verb of the clause.

Improve this answer
2
  • Grammar purists would object to your claim that the past participle is acting as though it were the main verb of the clause, but your other advice is sound.
    – TimR
    Dec 29, 2017 at 20:00
  • I said because it's passive, it's acting as though it were the main verb of the clause. I have used the past subjunctive to show that it is not actually acting as the main verb, but, in essence, it really is. The "were" just links everything in the passive. Basically, I'm trying to say that one cannot omit "disabled" above as it is, in essence, the main verb.
    – Nick
    Dec 29, 2017 at 20:04

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .