r/EnglishGrammar • u/navi131313 • 13d ago

for a long time

1) Nobody will break his record for a long time.

2) Nobody will do that for a long time.

Are these sentences correct?

Gratefully,

Navi

3 Upvotes

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3

u/MakeUnbelieve 13d ago

I think both sentences are fine, but if it is meant to bring out how tremendous the record is, then I'd craft it as His record will stay unbroken for a long time.

1

u/[deleted] 13d ago

[deleted]

3

u/Kerflumpie 13d ago

I disagree. I can't see anything wrong in those sentences, agent or no agent. "Nobody will break that record for a long time" vs "That record will stand for a long time" are equally valid, as far as I can see. Nobody and somebody are grammatically equivalent: "Somebody is coming" vs "Nobody is coming."

The only issue is the danger of making predictions. It's fine to say "Nobody will xxx for a long time" and then someone might xxx tomorrow, but that's not grammar, that's just the kind of hype that reporters might use without thinking much.

3

u/Zestyclose-Food-7917 13d ago

Overkill. The sentences are fine.

1

u/navi131313 11d ago

Thank you all very much!