2

The present progressive can be used to insist that people do things or do not do things —Swan, Practical English Usage, 214-3, p.190

I'm in a big trouble with understanding what the that-clause of above example means. What does it really mean?

I guess it expresses,

  1. To insist that people should do things or should not do things. OR
  2. To insist what people do or what people don't do.

Which is correct?

Improve this question
10
  • 1
    @Whelt The complete sentence is "The present progressive can be used to insist that ......."
    – Kevin D
    Commented Mar 19, 2015 at 17:51
  • 1
    It would definitely help to see the rest of the sentence and the context. As things stand, you're right, it's ambiguous. [And you've made me think of one reason perhaps why the subjunctive hasn't dies completely in English]
    – Araucaria - Not here any more.
    Commented Mar 19, 2015 at 17:52
  • 1
    @Araucaria M.swan's PEU - Page 190.
    – Kevin D
    Commented Mar 19, 2015 at 17:56
  • 1
    @Araucaria See this image
    – Kevin D
    Commented Mar 19, 2015 at 18:29
  • 2
    I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because without context, either of OP's suggested meanings could apply - and that context hasn't been supplied.
    – FumbleFingers
    Commented Mar 19, 2015 at 21:10

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
2

It means the present progressive can be used to either:

  • insist that X does Y, or
  • insist that X does NOT Y (it's implying you would use the word not with this or a verb that means to not do something, like stop or give up)

You are going there tomorrow. (If I said this to you, I am insisting you go there tomorrow.)

You are not going there tomorrow. (If I said this to you, I am insisting you not go there tomorrow.)

Improve this answer
1

Yes, #1 is correct. I'm not even sure what you mean by #2.

It seems you might be having trouble with parsing "that"; I see you bolded it along with "people" as if it were "that people" (like "these people" or "those people") rather than not bolding it, since it belongs with "insist that".

No way would I substitute "what" for "that" in this case.

That said.... ultrasawblade's answer is good too. I hope between the two of we helped you to sort it out.

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

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