Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: what I want is that
Explanation:
Given data
Concept / Approach
After the copular ‘‘is’’, the complement should be a bare content clause without an extra ‘‘that’’ introducing another finite clause with ‘‘should’’. The idiomatic choices are: ‘‘what I want is to finish…’’ (if same subject) or ‘‘what I want is that you finish …’’ (without ‘‘should’’ in many exam keys). Here, Part B triggers an awkward double subordination.
Step-by-Step evaluation
Part B is the source of awkwardness; the preferred correction is either (i) ‘‘what I want is that you finish the work within a month’’ or (ii) ‘‘what I want is for you to finish the work within a month.’’
Correction
Replace ‘‘what I want is that’’ with ‘‘what I want is’’; then write the complement appropriately: ‘‘… is that you finish …’’ or ‘‘… is for you to finish …’’
Common pitfalls
Final Answer
what I want is that
Discussion & Comments