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Hans51 Posted 9 years ago
Grammar

Ambiguous modification

I do not want to waste my time on something I cannot change anymore.

-> I do not want to waste my time on something I cannot change anymore.

-> I do not want to waste my time on something I cannot change anymore.


In the original sentence, which one do you native English speakers think 'anymore' modifies?


I think that there is a meaning difference between them.


What do you native English speakers think and how do you feel with those ambiguous sentences?


The Constitutional Court is expected to reach its verdict on whether to uphold or overturn the impeachment motion next month.


In this sentence, 'next month' modifies 'is expected' or 'is expected to reach' or 'uphold or overturn'?


What do you native English speakers think?


Thank you so much as usual in advance.

  

Top answer

I do not want to waste my time on somet h ing I cannot change anymore . This would be written: I do not want to waste my time anymore on something I cannot change. That's why it reads to me as: I do not want to waste my time on somet h ing I cannot change anymore .

— CalifJim

  • I do not want to waste my time on somet h ing I cannot change anymore .
  • This would be written: I do not want to waste my time anymore on something I cannot change.
  • That's why it reads to me as: I do not want to waste my time on somet h ing I cannot change anymore .
  • Hans51 The Constitutional Court is expected to reach its verdict on whether to uphold or overturn the impeachment motion next month.
  • = It is expected that the Constitutional Court will reach its verdict next month on whether to uphold or overturn the impeachment motion.
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2 Answers
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I do not want to waste my time on something I cannot change anymore.

This would be written:

I do not want to waste my time anymore on something I cannot change.

That's why it reads to me as:

I do not want to waste my time on something I ca

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Hans51which one do you native English speakers think 'anymore' modifies?

'Waste'. The sentence can (and perhaps should) be recast:

I do not want to waste my time anymore on something I cannot change.

Hans51I think that there is a meaning difference between them. What do you native English speakers think and h
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