0
Stenka25 Posted 11 years ago
Vocabulary
A question regarding 'the better'
A question regarding 'the better'
The passage comes from The 48 Laws Of Power By Robert Greene.
https://books.google.co.kr/books?id=P_zMW3EHnTEC&pg=PR20&dq=%22the+better+to+handle+danger+from+wherever+it+comes%22&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22the%20better%20to%20handle%20danger%20from%20wherever%20it%20comes%22&f=false
Related to mastering your emotions is the ability to distance yourself from the present moment and think objectively about the past and future. Like Janus, the double-faced Roman deity and guardian of all gates and doorways, you must be able to look in both directions at once, the better to handle danger from wherever it comes.
I'd like to ask a question regarding the underlined 'the better'.
Since it follows a complete sentence, I think I can parse it as follows: that is, it's better to handle danger from wherever it comes.
But I cannot figure out exactly how 'the better' works in this passage in a sense of syntax, I mean, grammatical structure.
Can you tell me how it happens and, if you can, give me another example sentence?
Regards.
The passage comes from The 48 Laws Of Power By Robert Greene.
https://books.google.co.kr/books?id=P_zMW3EHnTEC&pg=PR20&dq=%22the+better+to+handle+danger+from+wherever+it+comes%22&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22the%20better%20to%20handle%20danger%20from%20wherever%20it%20comes%22&f=false
Related to mastering your emotions is the ability to distance yourself from the present moment and think objectively about the past and future. Like Janus, the double-faced Roman deity and guardian of all gates and doorways, you must be able to look in both directions at once, the better to handle danger from wherever it comes.
I'd like to ask a question regarding the underlined 'the better'.
Since it follows a complete sentence, I think I can parse it as follows: that is, it's better to handle danger from wherever it comes.
But I cannot figure out exactly how 'the better' works in this passage in a sense of syntax, I mean, grammatical structure.
Can you tell me how it happens and, if you can, give me another example sentence?
Regards.
Top answer
The meaning is "... so that you will be better able to handle danger from wherever it comes". "...
- The meaning is "...
- so that you will be better able to handle danger from wherever it comes".
- "...
- the better to ~" is a set pattern of words.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
3 Answers
0
The meaning is "... so that you will be better able to handle danger from wherever it comes".
"... the better to ~" is a set pattern of words.
"... the better to ~" is a set pattern of words.
00
Stenka25the better to handle danger~ so (that) you can handle danger better ~ which will serve you better to handle the danger
Stenka25I cannot figure out exactly how 'the better' works in this passage in a sense of syntax, I mean, grammatical structure.Join the club! "(all) the better to" is pretty much an anomaly where s
00
Thanks a lot as always, GPY.
Thanks a lot as always, CJ.
Your reply makes every question I got crystal clear and makes me gigling out of my mind, CJ.
Thanks a lot as always, CJ.
Your reply makes every question I got crystal clear and makes me gigling out of my mind, CJ.
0
Related Questions