| QUESTION | |
| Which of these sentences is more correct | |
| I would appreciate it if you would...... or, | |
| I would appreciate if you would..... | |
| Should the word "it" be used? | |
| GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE | |
| The verb "appreciate" does seem to demand an object, something to be appreciated, doesn't it? The problem with "I would appreciate if you would. . . ." is that "if" clauses don't make very good noun clauses; they aren't good things to be appreciated. We could say "I would appreciate your cleaning out these eaves" (in which the gerund form becomes the noun phrase appreciated) or "I would appreciate it if you would clean out these eaves." We have to give appreciate its it. |
