Internet Tax

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Internet Tax

by logitech » Wed Nov 19, 2008 7:10 pm
Congress has enacted legislation forbidding state and local governments from raising taxes on connections that link consumers to the Internet for the next three years.

A) forbidding state and local governments from raising taxes on connections that link consumers to the Internet for the next three years

B) that forbids state and local governments for the next three years from raising taxes on connections that link consumers to the Internet

C) that for the next three years forbids state and local governments to raise taxes on connections that link consumers to the Internet

D) forbidding for the next three years to state and local governments the raising of taxes on connections that link consumers to the Internet

E) that forbids for the next three years state and local governments from raising taxes on connections that link consumers to the Internet

OA C

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LGTCH
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Re: Internet Tax

by karmayogi » Wed Nov 19, 2008 7:26 pm
The relative pronoun 'that' correctly refers to 'legislation' and introduces the subordinate clause. 'forbidding' looks like qualifying the action of the congress and, even if that the intention, a comma should come between 'legislation' and 'forbidding'. That eliminates options A and D.

'forbid to' is idiomatic and 'forbid from' is not. Eliminates options B and E.

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Re: Internet Tax

by logitech » Wed Nov 19, 2008 7:30 pm
karmayogi wrote:The relative pronoun 'that' correctly refers to 'legislation' and introduces the subordinate clause. 'forbidding' looks like qualifying the action of the congress and, even if that the intention, a comma should come between 'legislation' and 'forbidding'. That eliminates options A and D.

'forbid to' is idiomatic and 'forbid from' is not. Eliminates options B and E.
Karmayogi ( Cool nickname by the way ) ,

Can you please shed some lights on how you decide whether we need a THAT in a sentence. In your explanation:

Main Clause + THAT + Subordinate Clause

I understand that but I sometimes fail to apply this concept.

Thanks!
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by iamcste » Wed Nov 19, 2008 10:33 pm
If sentence starts with a clause, it is preferred to insert a modifier using a relative pronoun and a simple verb tense than using -ing form of the verb

This can be applied

Eliminate A and D


Forbid X to Y is the correct usage

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by vishubn » Wed Nov 19, 2008 10:33 pm
yaa same here ! on logitech Views ! i had a different view on usage of that !!

Can u please elaborate

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Re: Internet Tax

by karmayogi » Thu Nov 20, 2008 4:19 am
logitech wrote:
karmayogi wrote:The relative pronoun 'that' correctly refers to 'legislation' and introduces the subordinate clause. 'forbidding' looks like qualifying the action of the congress and, even if that the intention, a comma should come between 'legislation' and 'forbidding'. That eliminates options A and D.

'forbid to' is idiomatic and 'forbid from' is not. Eliminates options B and E.
Karmayogi ( Cool nickname by the way ) ,

Can you please shed some lights on how you decide whether we need a THAT in a sentence. In your explanation:

Main Clause + THAT + Subordinate Clause

I understand that but I sometimes fail to apply this concept.

Thanks!
THAT should be used to introduce a restrictive clause. A restrictive clause is one which is essential to the meaning of a sentence – if it’s removed, the meaning of the sentence will change.

For example: I am wearing the shirt that you gifted me on my last birthday.

Now let me modify the problem sentence:

Congress has enacted legislation that for the next three years forbids state and local governments to raise taxes on connections that link consumers to the Internet, boosting online shopping.

In above sentence, first that is restricting the legislation and second that is restricting the connections. Last dependent clause “boosting online shopping” is with any that and is in verb+ing form. Here, boosting is referring to complete clause before it. Meaning, the congress’s enactment is going to boost online shopping. And if we replace the dependent clause with “that will boost online shopping” then use of that is ambiguous.

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Re: Internet Tax

by logitech » Thu Nov 20, 2008 7:56 am
karmayogi wrote:

THAT should be used to introduce a restrictive clause. A restrictive clause is one which is essential to the meaning of a sentence – if it’s removed, the meaning of the sentence will change.

For example: I am wearing the shirt that you gifted me on my last birthday.

Now let me modify the problem sentence:

Congress has enacted legislation that for the next three years forbids state and local governments to raise taxes on connections that link consumers to the Internet, boosting online shopping.

In above sentence, first that is restricting the legislation and second that is restricting the connections. Last dependent clause “boosting online shopping” is with any that and is in verb+ing form. Here, boosting is referring to complete clause before it. Meaning, the congress’s enactment is going to boost online shopping. And if we replace the dependent clause with “that will boost online shopping” then use of that is ambiguous.
Wonderful. I also think that without that:

Congress has enacted legislation forbidding state and local governments from raising taxes on connections that link consumers to the Internet for the next three years.

It almost sounds like Congress has enacted the BOLD phrase.
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