Hi, Mike!  Recently you wrote in a message to ALEXANDER KORYAGIN:

MP>  Again, I don't know what the rule is,


          While you may regard that as a shortcoming, I'm very glad to hear it
because I won't have to unteach a grade three rule which doesn't work in grade
four.  "I don't know" tells me you're open to further input... and chances are
I'll be as busy as a beaver for the next while because I can't think of a rule
either.  For me, identifying patterns is more constructive & more fun....  :-)

          Rules may work better in a lot of other languages... at least on the
surface... than they do in English, which is a mixture of languages.  But I've
had my share of experiences with stuff in Latin & French which seems logical &
straightforward until the hapless student gets to question #4 out of 10.  :-))



MP>  "... it had ordered Thursday that the cables be tightened..."


          No problem there, AFAIC....  :-)



MP>  "... it had ordered Thursday for the cables to be tightened..."


          I wouldn't put it that way... but I can't fault the grammar although
the wording isn't what I'm accustomed to.  Stylistically I prefer the original
because it's more concise.  Hmm.  Stay tuned for further developments....  ;-)




--- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+
 * Origin: Wits' End, Vancouver CANADA (1:153/716)