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Peaceblinkfriend Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

At the expense of human life/the lives of refugees/the refugees' lives.'

Hi all

Does this sound natural and grammatical?

'We shouldn't pursue people smugglers at the expense of human life/the lives of refugees/the refugees' lives.'

Thank you

PBF
  

Top answer

This is a more natural way: We shouldn't pursue people smugglers if it would put the lives of the refugees at risk. - This means that there would be a liklihood that one or more refugees would be killed. We shouldn't pursue people smugglers at the expense of the lives of refugees" - This means that some refugees are certain to be killed.

— AlpheccaStars

  • This is a more natural way: We shouldn't pursue people smugglers if it would put the lives of the refugees at risk.
  • - This means that there would be a liklihood that one or more refugees would be killed.
  • We shouldn't pursue people smugglers at the expense of the lives of refugees" - This means that some refugees are certain to be killed.
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4 Answers
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This is a more natural way:

We shouldn't pursue people smugglers if it would put the lives of the refugees at risk. - This means that there would be a liklihood that one or more refugees would be killed.

We shouldn't pursue people smugglers at the expense of the lives of refugees" - This means that some refugees are certain to be killed.
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Thanks for replying AS

Could '...at the expense of the lives of refugees' mean the rights of the refugees are certain to be ignored?

Thanks again

PBF
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Well, if you could be killed, it's a foregone conclusion to assume that your right to life is being completely ignored.
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Thanks for the follow-up AS.

Just wondering, what is the difference between 'the lives of the refugees' and 'the lives of refugees' in 'We shouldn't pursue people smugglers at the expense of the lives of (the) refugees'?

Thank you again

PBF
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