Dear Editor: Subjects, objects, predicates and Soca Warriors’ stuttering CNL finish

“[…] I am captivated by the sentence: ‘However, coach Angus Eve’s troops lacked the ingenuity to really carve open their limited guests and could not quite wrestle the ball off them with the required regularity.’

“Sir, that declaration transported me to a method of inquiry learned, in primary school, to unlock the mysteries of subjects, objects and predicates…”

The following Letter to the Editor on Trinidad and Tobago’s costly 1-1 Concacaf Nations League draw with Nicaragua on 27 March 2023 was submitted to Wired868 by Chambi Sey:

I write in response to your article regarding the tame, but decisive, draw between the national teams of Nicaragua and Trinidad and Tobago.

In particular, I am captivated by the sentence: ‘However, coach Angus Eve’s troops lacked the ingenuity to really carve open their limited guests and could not quite wrestle the ball off them with the required regularity.’

Sir, that declaration transported me to a method of inquiry learned, in primary school, to unlock the mysteries of subjects, objects and predicates.

To locate meaning within a sentence, we were taught that the verb(s) in the sentence should be identified, questioning as to who or what is “doing what” should follow, and a compatible answer responsive to that questioning should in turn be provided.

For instance—relying on your sentence—a question posed would be: Who lacked the ingenuity to carve open their limited guests? A viable response would be: coach Angus Eve’s troops.

Similarly, another question posed could be: Who could not wrestle the ball from Nicaragua with regularity? A compatible response would be: coach Angus Eve’s troops.

Sir, how long would it take primary school students to conclude that the lack of ingenuity rests not with the troops?

More from Wired868

‘I’ve no interest in critics!’ Yorke defends job and vows to make T&T 10 times better—Wired868 examines coach’s tenure

“In the 12 months that we have been together, if anyone said we would be in this position—unbeaten at home—despite Read more

Molino and Marvin farewell ends with baffling 2-2 tie, as T&T close WCQ campaign against Bermuda

So, what was the score? Did we win? The confusion among Trinidad and Tobago football supporters as they streamed out Read more

Dear Editor: History proves T&T needs vibrant local leagues for success—not grandparent legislation

“[…] Besides Chris Birchall, born in England of a Trinidad mother, all the members of the starting XI against Sweden Read more

Yorke: T&T is “closing the gap!” Coach explains Molino omission and tactics in Jamaica tie

Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team head coach Dwight Yorke put a brave face on his team’s failure to Read more

Molino’s late goal fails to save T&T’s WCQ dreams; Warriors KO’d by Jamaica draw

In second half stoppage time, a path to the Jamaican goal suddenly opened up for debutante Trinidad and Tobago forward Read more

Win or lose, what next for Yorke’s red, black and white army? And what does it mean for T&T’s football?

Will the next three hours of football played by the Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team define the legacy Read more

Letters to the Editor

Want to share your thoughts with Wired868? Email us at editor@wired868.com.
Please keep your letter between 300 to 600 words and be sure to read it over first for typos and punctuation.
We don’t publish anonymously unless there is a good reason, such as an obvious threat of harassment or job loss.