As wearing

Question

I see Roger as wearing a hat.Roger is seen by me as wearing a hat.as wearing is correct but unnatural?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

AnonymousI see Roger as wearing a hat.

Possible, but less natural than the more usual expressions for this.

I can see Roger wearing a hat. / I can imagine Roger wearing a hat.
I can see Roger in a hat. / I can imagine Roger in a hat.

AnonymousRoger is seen by me as wearing a hat.

Atrocious! Put this sentence away somewhere and never look at it again. It could destroy your brain.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

CalifJimCJ

Hi CJ, I would really like you to enlighten me on a question I have that has been giving me a headache for a few days now, in which I have been getting different answers. I would really appreciate your help and opinion.

How is it possible that this sentence is grammatically correct? you need to develop smarter diet, exercise, and other lifestyle habits.

Is the construction of such sentence possible in which there is no connection between the word 'develop' and what follows, 'diet' and 'exercise'? I thought that a main word has to act for all activities in a sentence!

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousHow is it possible that this sentence is grammatically correct? You need to develop smarter diet, exercise, and other lifestyle habits.

Of course it's correct. Maybe it's a little awkward, but it's correct.

You need to develop
smarter
...... diet (habits) [which are lifestyle habits]
...... exercise (habits) [which are lifestyle habits]
... and
..... other lifestyle habits.

AnonymousIs the construction of such sentence possible in which there is no connection between the word 'develop' and what follows, 'diet' and 'exercise'?

What? 'develop' is the verb, and the rest of the sentence has a compound direct object (three direct objects). Of course there's a connection.

CJ
_________________

You really should not hijack other people's threads. Please don't do it again.

Anonymous · Answer

jCalifJimOf course it's correct. Maybe it's a little awkward, but it's correct.

Thank yu ery much for replying CJ.

CalifJimYou really should not hijack other people's threads. Please don't do it again.

Sorry for doing that, it is just that I was so confused and got different opinions. I won't do it again.

CalifJimYou need to developsmarter...... diet (habits) [which are lifestyle habits]...... exercise (habits) [which are lifestyle habits]... and..... other lifestyle habits

Now I can see that it is possible since both 'diet' and 'exercise' are connected to both to develop and habits. I did not know that habits is being or can be implied in the first two objects, which makes it flow.

CalifJimWhat? 'develop' is the verb, and the rest of the sentence has a compound direct object (three direct objects). Of course there's a connection.

So the direct objects are 'diet', 'exercise' and 'other lifestyle habits' and develop acts for all three, right?

I have a few questions on that form of sentence construction:

1) Is this a common way of constructing a sentence since you said it is a bit awkward?
2) Are these types of sentences usually short in length, such as the one I provided, where a verb is connected to objects in which the last object has a word for the previous objects,e.g 'habits'? (I don't see that it can be a long sentence because it may be confusing)
3) All sentences with multiple activities have to connect with the starting verb, no matter in what way they are constructed. To clarify, our example show the connection because develop is used for all three activities and the word habits is implied in the previous objects. Would that be correct?

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousSo the direct objects are 'diet', 'exercise' and 'other lifestyle habits' and develop acts for all three, right?

Yes.

Anonymous1) Is this a common way of constructing a sentence since you said it is a bit awkward?

No, I don't think it's very common.

Anonymous2) Are these types of sentences usually short in length, such as the one I provided, where a verb is connected to objects in which the last object has a word for the previous objects,e.g 'habits'? (I don't see that it can be a long sentence because it may be confusing)

That would require intensive research. I can only guess that a longer sentence like that could be confusing, as you say.

Anonymousdevelop is used for all three activities and the word habits is implied in the previous objects. Would that be correct?

Correct.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

CalifJimAnonymous1) Is this a common way of constructing a sentence since you said it is a bit awkward?No, I don't think it's very common.

Great. That is what I though because most of the sentences with multiple activities I have seen are flow logically and are not confusing as this one. Would you agree?

Is what I said correct (All sentences with multiple activities have to connect with the starting verb, no matter in what way they are constructed)? Specifically, there should be a logical flow in which a main word has to connect and flaw with what follows as if the activities are written in a separate sentence, just as you have broken down the sentence and showed how each object works and is correct in a stand alone sentence. Is this true for all compound sentences in order for them to be correct, generally?

Lastly, do you suggest avoiding such a confusing sentence construction and writing a clearer one with a better flow that would be better?

Such as these, maybe:
You need to develop a smarter diet, an exercise regimen, and other lifestyle habits.
You need to develop a smarter diet, start exercising, and adopt other healthy lifestyle habits.

Are these better sentences, in your onion?

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymousmost of the sentences with multiple activities I have seen are flow logically and are not confusing as this one. Would you agree?

No, but I'm a native speaker. What may confuse you doesn't confuse me at all. That's how I can explain to you how the structure of the sentence works when you're confused.

AnonymousAll sentences with multiple activities have to connect with the starting verb, no matter in what way they are constructed

I have no idea what you're on about. "Activities", a word you keep using, have nothing to do with it. A verb may take multiple objects, but some verbs (intransitive) don't take objects at all.

Most general principles like yours (Allsentences ...) are almost sure to be false. Someone somewhere can probably find an exception.

AnonymousLastly, do you suggest avoiding such a confusing sentence construction and writing a clearer one with a better flow that would be better?Such as these, maybe:You need to develop a smarter diet, an exercise regimen, and other lifestyle habits. You need to develop a smarter diet, start exercising, and adopt other healthy lifestyle habits.Are these better sentences, in your onion?

Is that a raw onion or a cooked onion?

Yes, those are better. I prefer the second one.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

CalifJimNo, but I'm a native speaker. What may confuse you doesn't confuse me at all. That's how I can explain to you how the structure of the sentence works when you're confused

Yes, I understand but the sentence has to work and be connected if broken down, dosen't it?

What I meant is that the parts or activities (meaning multiple objects) have to connect, as in:

You need to develop smarter

diet habits,
exercise habits,
and other lifestyle habits.

We can see the connection here as they are indivudualy connected to to develop smarter, but take for example:

If we break this sentence (You need to develop a smarter diet, exercise, and other lifestyle habits):

You need to develop

a smarter diet,
exercise,
and other lifestyle habits.

This sentence can't be broken down properly and thus does not flow. Am I correct in meaning that a sentence has to flow and be connected in its individual parts or objects somewhat?

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousThis sentence can't be broken down properly and thus does not flow.

I have broken it down for you. I already said that it was awkward. This means it does not flow, as you put it.

AnonymousAm I correct in meaning that a sentence has to flow and be connected in its individual parts or objects somewhat?

That is the best way for a sentence to be, but we know that independent of any individual awkward sentence we may find. I think you're spending way too much time on an example that doesn't deserve such close attention.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

CalifJim AnonymousThis sentence can't be broken down properly and thus does not flow.I have broken it down for you. I already said that it was awkward. This means it does not flow, as you put it.AnonymousAm I correct in meaning that a sentence has to flow and be connected in its individual parts or objects somewhat?That is the best way for a sentence to be, but we know that independent of any individual awkward sentence we may find. I think you're spending way too much time on an example that doesn't deserve such close attention.CJ

Sorry CJ. I think I can't clarify want I want to say. I know you have broken it down, which is obvious that it flow. But the two sentences I provided above a different, one of them includes an article:

- You need to develop smarter diet, exercise, and other lifestyle habits. (this is the one you have broken down)
- You need to develop 'a' smarter diet, exercise, and other lifestyle habits. (This includes an article that impedes the flow of the sentence if broken down)

It is obvious that the first one connects as you have demonstrated once it's broken, but the inclusion of the article in the second example deters the individual objects or structure of the sentence. Do you see what I mean in that there should be a grammatical proper connection between the objects and what they are connected to even if it is complicated such as our original example?

Look at this other example: you need to develop a smarter diet, exercise routine, other lifestyle habits.

This sentence is gramatically wrong in which you can't break it down, right?

This is what I meant that the objects must connect in a sentence. Have I clarified my question. If so, am I right?

As wearing

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions