Learn English – Note that or noted that

grammaticality

Which one is grammatical?

Note that we have previously discussed about this.

or

Noted that we have previously discussed about this.

Note to Myself: First one is correct (by StoneyB)

Best Answer

Note that we have previously discussed this.

Here note is a finite verb in the imperative: the subject is always understood to be you. You call upon the reader to observe that the matter has already been discussed.

Noted that we have previously discussed this.

Noted may be understood as either a finite past-tense form or a non-finite past participle. In both cases, the sentence is defective:

  • If noted is a finite verb, the sentence is missing its subject—who observed that we have already discussed this?

  • If noted is a non-finite past participle there is neither a subject nor the finite verb which a sentence requires. This can only be treated as some sort of subordinate clause. But the clause cannot be employed as an adjectival past participle modifying some other sentence consituent, because such a constituent has to be the object of the non-finite verb, and you have already supplied that object: that we have previously discussed this.

    In fact, this usage can only be construed as a fragmentary comment (perhaps written in the margin?), not as either a sentence or a part of a sentence. It is not something which can properly appear in formal discourse.

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