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Avangi Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Caveats without antecedents

Hi,

Not being sure of the price, it may not be such a good deal. (not a great example)

If prior context makes it clear that I am the onewho is offering this opinion, can we allow something like this, or is it definitely ungrammatical? Emotion: rolleyes

Thanks, - A.
  

Top answer

Hi Avangi My opinion, which may differ from those of native speakers: It's definitely ungrammatical since in your sentence it is the one that isn't sure of the price, but of course we can allow it. Sentences like yours are common in English and there's no way anyone can give hard and fast rules about their correctness or incorrectness. The more common an ungrammatical structure is, the more likely it is to be considered idiomatic, which means that it is perfectly natural good English.

— Cool Breeze

  • Hi Avangi My opinion, which may differ from those of native speakers: It's definitely ungrammatical since in your sentence it is the one that isn't sure of the price, but of course we can allow it.
  • Sentences like yours are common in English and there's no way anyone can give hard and fast rules about their correctness or incorrectness.
  • The more common an ungrammatical structure is, the more likely it is to be considered idiomatic, which means that it is perfectly natural good English.
  • English abounds in ungrammaticalities (I just realized that ungrammaticality ) isn't in the dictionary) and there's nothing we need to do about them.
  • English would be boring like German if it were as consistent and logical as German.
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3 Answers
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Hi Avangi

My opinion, which may differ from those of native speakers: It's definitely ungrammatical since in your sentence itis the one that isn't sure of the price, but of course we can allow it.
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Hi Avangi,

I agree with CB (about commonality), and with you (re its not being a great example).
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I thank you gentlemen.

I did think of a slightly less offensive one while recently walking:

Not knowing the price, it would be hard to say.

I suppose the same conditions obtain.
Cool BreezeEnglish would be boring like German if it were as consistent and logical as German.
Toward which pole does Finnish belong?
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