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TheFisher Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
about adverbs modifying two or more adjectives
Take the following sentence:
The train was frequently loud and late.
If I want to say that the train was both frequently loud and frequently late, would the above sentence be accurate in conveying my meaning? Or should it be: "The train was frequently loud and frequently late." I wonder if the first sentence actually means the train was frequently loud, and also late (but not necessarily frequently).
Thanks in advance.
The train was frequently loud and late.
If I want to say that the train was both frequently loud and frequently late, would the above sentence be accurate in conveying my meaning? Or should it be: "The train was frequently loud and frequently late." I wonder if the first sentence actually means the train was frequently loud, and also late (but not necessarily frequently).
Thanks in advance.
Top answer
", you've set up a sentence talking about something that happens habitually. It's hard to see how anyone would be able to interpret the sentence as a whole as talking about something habitual with regard to loudness, but a one-time event with regard to lateness. Even separating the two results in something anomalous: The train was frequently loud, and it was late.
- ", you've set up a sentence talking about something that happens habitually.
- It's hard to see how anyone would be able to interpret the sentence as a whole as talking about something habitual with regard to loudness, but a one-time event with regard to lateness.
- Even separating the two results in something anomalous: The train was frequently loud, and it was late.
- What could that mean?
- Or, to put it differently, why would a speaker combine a fact about the habitual loudness of the train with the fact that it was late on this occasion?
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3 Answers
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Once you have "The train was frequently ...", you've set up a sentence talking about something that happens habitually. It's hard to see how anyone would be able to interpret the sentence as a whole as talking about something habitual with regard to loudness, but a one-time event with regard to lateness.
Even separating the two results in something anomalous:
The train
Even separating the two results in something anomalous:
The train
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TheFisherTo resove all ambiguity, write the sentence as follows. The train was frequently both loud and late.
The train was frequently loud and late.
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So I guess examining each individual writing situation is more important than following hard and fast rules..
much appreciated, btw.
much appreciated, btw.
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