0
Debpriya De Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Balance
"The governing body balanced the team ."
This sentence probably means that the team was somehow internally balanced by the governing body, ie. the various constituents of the group were made equal in all respects.
But , when we say "The governing body balanced the two teams", does it mean that the teams were balanced internally and separately or does it mean that one team was balanced with the other team, ie two teams were made equal to each other?
This sentence probably means that the team was somehow internally balanced by the governing body, ie. the various constituents of the group were made equal in all respects.
But , when we say "The governing body balanced the two teams", does it mean that the teams were balanced internally and separately or does it mean that one team was balanced with the other team, ie two teams were made equal to each other?
Top answer
-- It could indeed be either. Or that the governing body was equal to the two teams together. Only context will tell.
- -- It could indeed be either.
- Or that the governing body was equal to the two teams together.
- Only context will tell.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
8 Answers
0
But , when we say "The governing body balanced the two teams", does it mean that the teams were balanced internally and separately or does it mean that one team was balanced with the other team, ie two teams were made equal to each other?-- It could indeed be either. Or that the governing body was equal to the two teams together. Only context will tell.
00
Dear Debpriya
I think you have it right..
- The governing body balanced the team.
.. means that the governing body made sure that there were people on the team with differing strengths and talents, so as to make it a balanced team
Possibly it means that the governing body sent a representative to the team's meetings, to make sure that their decisions were balanc
I think you have it right..
- The governing body balanced the team.
.. means that the governing body made sure that there were people on the team with differing strengths and talents, so as to make it a balanced team
Possibly it means that the governing body sent a representative to the team's meetings, to make sure that their decisions were balanc
00
@ Mister Micawber,
I couldn't quite get you. Why did you mean by " that the governing body was equal to the two teams together" ?
I couldn't quite get you. Why did you mean by " that the governing body was equal to the two teams together" ?
00
Please ignore my previous post. I get the meaning of " that the governing body was equal to the two teams together".
But, I have another question - Does the same rule apply if I use the verb "unbalance" instead of "balance" as in "The governing body decided to unbalance the two teams." ?
But, I have another question - Does the same rule apply if I use the verb "unbalance" instead of "balance" as in "The governing body decided to unbalance the two teams." ?
00
You have now added 'decided to' to your sentence, which makes that interpretation even less likely, but I suppose it is still possible without further context.
00
Would it help if I mentioned the two teams separately as in ,
1. The govering body balanced team A and team B.
2. The governing body unbalanced team A and team B.
Would these sentences be equally ambiguous as the former sentences ?
1. The govering body balanced team A and team B.
2. The governing body unbalanced team A and team B.
Would these sentences be equally ambiguous as the former sentences ?
00
Would these sentences be equally ambiguous as the former sentences ?-- If I have followed the discussion accurately, yes: these are ambiguous, too:
The governing body balanced/unbalanced team A and team B.-- The governing body left one team or entered one team; the governing body manipulated the team size (or weight or whatever); the governing body outweighed, etc. both team
The governing body balanced/unbalanced team A and team B.-- The governing body left one team or entered one team; the governing body manipulated the team size (or weight or whatever); the governing body outweighed, etc. both team
00
Related Questions