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Kevin X Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Can help doing something?
Hi guys,
I read a quote from Bell, "A true inventor can't help inventing any more that he can help thinking," which I have two questions about:
1. I know the use of [can't help doing something], but does its affirmative form work generally, or just in this particular sentence for parallelism?
2. Would anyone rephrase it so I can see what it exactly means?
Thanks a lot!
I read a quote from Bell, "A true inventor can't help inventing any more that he can help thinking," which I have two questions about:
1. I know the use of [can't help doing something], but does its affirmative form work generally, or just in this particular sentence for parallelism?
2. Would anyone rephrase it so I can see what it exactly means?
Thanks a lot!
Top answer
I'm not sure if you want a positive version or if you want to rephrase the negative version. A true inventor is compelled to invent, just as he is compelled to think. That's my stab at a positive version with the same meaning!
- I'm not sure if you want a positive version or if you want to rephrase the negative version.
- A true inventor is compelled to invent, just as he is compelled to think.
- That's my stab at a positive version with the same meaning!
- " - A.
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1 Answers
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I'm not sure if you want a positive version or if you want to rephrase the negative version.
A true inventor is compelled to invent, just as he is compelled to think. .
That's my stab at a positive version with the same meaning!
"Can't help doing something" is an idiom, and as far as I know, it can't be converted to "Can help etc."
- A.
A true inventor is compelled to invent, just as he is compelled to think. .
That's my stab at a positive version with the same meaning!
"Can't help doing something" is an idiom, and as far as I know, it can't be converted to "Can help etc."
- A.
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