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Angliholic Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
As the/many centuries went by
No one knows how man learned to make words. Perhaps he began by imitating animals. Perhaps he imitated sounds he heard all round him ... As the centuries went by, he made more words.
Hi,
The above is from an article titled "Enlarging Our Vocabulary." Is it also right and about the same to say "As many centuries went by" rather than "as the centuries went by?" Thanks.
(missing image)
Hi,
The above is from an article titled "Enlarging Our Vocabulary." Is it also right and about the same to say "As many centuries went by" rather than "as the centuries went by?" Thanks.
(missing image)
Top answer
Hi, There's no big difference. 'The' is more literary. It suggests that the reader is familiar with the centuries that went by.
- Hi, There's no big difference.
- 'The' is more literary.
- It suggests that the reader is familiar with the centuries that went by.
- ) Clive
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4 Answers
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Hi,
There's no big difference.
'The' is more literary. It suggests that the reader is familiar with the centuries that went by. (eg 'Oh, yeah, I know about those centuries'.)
Clive
There's no big difference.
'The' is more literary. It suggests that the reader is familiar with the centuries that went by. (eg 'Oh, yeah, I know about those centuries'.)
Clive
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Your phrase is stilted - it seems very awkward.
Why not say "as many centuries passed" if you don't like the original phrase.
Why not say "as many centuries passed" if you don't like the original phrase.
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Thanks, Clive and John.
Now I think sometimes native speakers have different English instincts about some expressions!
Why is it awkward to say "as many centuries went by," while it's good to say "as many centuries passed?"
Btw, I do like the original. I just try to explore other ways of saying the same thing.
Now I think sometimes native speakers have different English instincts about some expressions!
Why is it awkward to say "as many centuries went by," while it's good to say "as many centuries passed?"
Btw, I do like the original. I just try to explore other ways of saying the same thing.
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Good question !
Like Clive said about "the", to me the words "went by" make me feel like the reader would say "Oh yeah, those centuries that went by - just like that car that went by a few minutes ago".
Actually, there are no errors here - just different styles.
Like Clive said about "the", to me the words "went by" make me feel like the reader would say "Oh yeah, those centuries that went by - just like that car that went by a few minutes ago".
Actually, there are no errors here - just different styles.
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