propose

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1
  1. He proposed us going to the theater.
  2. He proposed us that we go to the theater.
  3. He proposed us we go to the theater.

Are all these three sentences grammatically correct?

Can we consider “we go” in #3 is in the imperative mood which wouldn’t work with the word “propose”?

Thanks

2

#1 is ugly and the other two are wrong. You can say “He proposed that we (should) go to the theatre.”

“He proposed our going to the theatre” is also possible grammatically, but it feels quite formal and is not something many people would say.

3

Hi Dozy,

He proposed to go to the theatre.
He proposed going to the theatre.

Is there ANY (!!!) difference between them?

 Thanks..
4

The first is more like him expressing his personal intention, and the second is more like a suggestion.

5

Hi!

According to ''Advanced Grammar In Use" by M.Hewings, the following rule is given:

After some verbs we cannot include an object before a to-infinitive:

He threatened to report their behaviour to the principal.
(NOT He threatened THEM to report their behaviour…)

Can we say:

(a) He proposed US to go to the theatre (Verb + object + to-infinitive).
(b) Sobir promised HIS MOTHER to be at home early (Verb + object + to-infinitive).

Thanks…

6

(a) No.
(b) No. You can say “Sobir promised his mother that he would be home early.” Note also no “at”.

7

(a) I’ll be home early.
(b) I’ll be at home early.

Can we not use “at” in this case? Why not?.

8

Dozy,

  1. Sobir promised his mother that he would be home early.
  2. Sobir promised to his mother that he would be home early.
    Which one is correct?
9

No, ‘at’ is not correct there. It is because ‘home’ is a noun which is used in a special way. You could say ‘I’ll be at the house early’.

10

We were taught at school that there is an expression “at home”.
For the proof, I have just looked through the book entitled “English Grammar in Use”
by R.Murphy with Roann Altman and I have read the following statement on page 228

You can say be home/stay home with or without at:
We’ll be out during the day but we’ll be (at) home all evening.
I didn’t go out last night. I stayed (at) home.

11

Those examples are correct, but nevertheless in your example you can’t say “I’ll be at home early”; it has to be “I’ll be home early”. This is because in your case “be home” means “get home”, or “arrive home”, which is a meaning that “be at home” cannot have.

12

Dozy,

  1. He proposed us to go to the theatre.
  2. He proposed to us to go to the theatre.
  3. He proposed to us that we go to the theatre.
    Which are the sentences correct?
13

sentence 3 is the only one which is correct.
See answer #6.