Sentence: Old beliefs now being seen as invalid creates 'learning anxiety'.

[Iraqi]

Can any of the specialized friends here kindly identify the subject of the following sentence?

[Old beliefs now being seen as invalid creates "learning anxiety".]

I differed with my friend as to what the subject of the sentence is. I said it is (Old beliefs now being seen as invalid) altogether, while he said that it is (old beliefs), and thus the verb "create"- according to him- shouldn't take an "s"'.

I told him that the meaning of the sentence is:

"That/the fact that old beliefs are now seen as invalid creates.....", thus the subject cannot be "Old beliefs"; rather the whole clause.

I need your opinion please.

Thanks in advance

[Natasha81]

"The fact that old beliefs are now seen as invalid creates learning anxiety" is a complex sentece, i.e there are two sentences(clauses). One is "The fact creates learning anxiety". The subject is "The Fact", The predicate is "creates."The second clause is "old beliefs are now seen as invalid". The subject is "Beliefs" and the predicate is "are seen as invalid". So, in this case everything seems gramatically correct.
If you say "Old beliefs now beeing seen as invalid creates learning anxiety", it is wrong and should be "creat" then the subject is "Beliefs" and the predicate is "creat". So just figure out what creats the learning anxiety-the old beliefs? or The fact that they are seen invalid?, and build your sentece. I suppose, it is the fact that they are old and invalid that creats anxiety.

Natasha.

[Jamie (K)]

Iraqi, you were correct.

The subject is "Old beliefs now being seen as invalid", and the verb needs the S, so it has to be "creates".

It's a horrible sentence, by the way. An academic probably wrote it. Academics are often the worst writers of all.

[Jamie (K)]

[Iraqi]

Thanks Natasha and Jamie..

Being a translator and interpreter working with British Police trainers who train Police officers in the Arab Gulf, I always face such challenges. I've found many instances of ambiguity ensuing from awkwardly-built structures which add to the difficulty of my job. However, such challenges are enjoyable and beneficial as they trigger deep search and discussions.

Regards

[Natasha81]

I am so terribly sorry about the misspelled words. I really am. Usually I spell all right, but my typing is not that good :(:( . I will pay more attention next time for sure, how embarrassing :(

“Old beliefs now being seen as invalid creates learning anxiety”, could you please kindly explain to me why the subject is the whole thing "old beliefs now being seen as invalid”. Isn’t “being seen as invalid “is the attribute here? I understood why it should be creates, it is as if the word "Fact" is omitted. So basically," it "creates anxiety. Is it right?? It is confusing indeed.

Thank you very much. My apologies again, will never type at seven o'clock in the morning :):)trying to do some work as well.

[Iraqi]

Never mind Natasha. To err is human.......... just pay me $1216556458454, and i will consider thinking of the possibility of the potential of accepting your apology. :roll: :)

[Jamie (K)]

[Natasha81]

Thank you very much for your detailed explanation. Having read the nasty sentence one hundred times I finally understood what the author wanted to say. Just the sentence structure confused me-all clear now.
Thank you once again.

[Iraqi]

Thanks Jamie for your effort.

I will highly appreciate it if you help me with a website where this grammatical topic is explained with examples, or any web page containing any sentences having structures similar to:

“Old beliefs now being seen as invalid" ...........

and,

"The people going into the garage was completely unexpected."

I tried to do so through google for hours, but in vain.

Regards

[Jamie (K)]

Iraqi, here is a little information for you. The books that talk about small clauses don't say very much, but at least there is a little information here and here.

I'll keep looking.

[Iraqi]

That's more than enough for me, dear Jamie.

Well done! That is exactly what I am after.

I am so grateful to you for your kind help.

Kindest regards