eslHQ Home
User Name Password
Lost Password? | Join eslHQ.com, it's FREE!
View today's posts
Search Extras Help   

Reply
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Unread Jun 15th, 2008, 05:01 am
eslHQ superstar!
 
Join Date: Mar 27th, 2005
Location: Japan
Posts: 1,693
mesmark is on a distinguished road
Default Our customer demanded we / asked us to

Any idea why we can't say:

"Our customers demanded us to send the packages by Friday."

I was teaching an advanced business class and looking some of their emails. Two people came up with the above formation and "They requested us to send a packaging slip."

Why can't we use the formation associated with 'ask'
"asked us to send a packaging slip."
Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Unread Jun 15th, 2008, 07:43 am
Sue
 
Join Date: Oct 8th, 2006
Location: Milan
Posts: 1,406
susan53 is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Our customer demanded we / asked us to

Just one of those things. Some verbs take an infinitive, some take a "that" clause, some take a gerund, some can take more than one construction ... and some of those which take the infinitive can take an indirect object whilst others can't. There's no particular reason for it as far as I know.

So ask can take an infinitive or, if the subject of the infinitive is different from that of the verb an indirect object and infinitive - They asked to go or They asked us to go. Demand on the other hand can take the infinitive but not the indirect object - it just has to use a that clause instead : They demanded to go but They demanded that we should go.

It's a minefield for students just because it's so random. And it's a particular problem for Ss whose L1 uses a construction for a verb which English doesn't. Italians for instance will say We suggested to go or They suggested us to go because that's how it is in Italian.
__________________
An ELT Notebook
The DELTA Course
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Unread Jun 15th, 2008, 04:46 pm
eslHQ superstar!
 
Join Date: Mar 27th, 2005
Location: Japan
Posts: 1,693
mesmark is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Our customer demanded we / asked us to

Thanks! I couldn't find and rhyme or reason for it, but I was hesitant to just say, 'Well, because that's the way it is ...'

So, I told them i'd run it by some people.

Thanks again
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Unread Jun 17th, 2008, 10:13 am
Sue
 
Join Date: Oct 8th, 2006
Location: Milan
Posts: 1,406
susan53 is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Our customer demanded we / asked us to

Odd. When I wrote the answer, the last sentence of the first paragraph ran There's no rhyme nor reason for it as far as I know. But I deleted it as I wondered if rhyme or reason might be a British expression and be a bit distracting.

But as you used it in the reply, it's clearly not. I wonder what the origin is? Rhyme here presumably stands for regularity so it makes sense ... but I wonder where it came from?
__________________
An ELT Notebook
The DELTA Course
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads Replies
Customer Service Evaluator Wanted / 108,000 per survey 0
Customer Service Evaluator Wanted / 108.000 WON per survey 0

Find the Best TEFL, TESL, TESOL & CELTA Certification Courses - User Submitted Ratings & Reviews for Online, Distance & Abroad TEFL Courses. Over 3,500 reviews of 100+ TEFL schools!

Teach English in Thailand - Onsite and Combined TEFL certification courses in Phuket, Thailand.


Free ESL Flashcards


Similar Threads Replies
Customer Service Evaluator Wanted / 108,000 per survey 0
Customer Service Evaluator Wanted / 108.000 WON per survey 0


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:52 am.

All materials from this website are for classroom-use only. Digital redistribution of materials, in part or in whole, is strictly forbidden!

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.8
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0 PL2