Change the Rules of the Game

Question

Hi, I've just come up with sentences using the expression "change the rules of the game." Do they sound fine?

1) Firms with breakthrough technologies can change the rules of the game for their respective industries. Other companies soon follow suit.
2) The industry has never seen such handsome money flowing in. MaxPharm changed the rules of the game; inspired by the Euro-American company, who made a great amount of profit out of their innovative vaccines, many pharmaceutical companies are now competing to manufacture more vaccines, against a wide array of diseases, than ever before.

Hiro

Yankee · Accepted Answer

Hi HSS

HSS1) Firms with breakthrough technologies can change the rules of the game for their respective industries. Other companies soon follow suit.

The first sentence is OK, but the second one is odd because it sounds as if you mean that "Other companies also change the rules of the game". It seems to me that you must be trying to say that other companies soon follow the lead of the company/companies with breakthrough technologies. in other words, other companies soon start following the new "rules" -- but to me that is not what your second sentence actually says in the context.

HSS2) The industry has never seen such handsome money flowing in. MaxPharm changed the rules of the game; inspired by the Euro-American company, who made a great amount of profit out of their innovative vaccines, many pharmaceutical companies are now competing to manufacture more vaccines, against a wide array of diseases, than ever before.

The first sentence strikes me as a little odd in combination with the second. I would expect a sentence that states the "old rules" prior to your sentence with the "changed rules". However, what your first sentence states is actually a result of the changed rules. You could possibly write something like this:

"Until recently, the pharmaceutical industry had seen relatively little competition and innovation in vaccines."

To me, that would refer to the "old rules", which have changed, and thus tie in better with your second sentence.

Someone else may see all this differently, but that's my two cents.

HSS · Answer

Yankee"Until recently, the pharmaceutical industry had seen relatively little competition and innovation in vaccines."

Hi, Amy. Would this be "had seen" or "has seen"? I trust the sentence would be better with "has" and, actually, that you could hold my first sentece with a little change from "has never seen" to "is now seeing" following your suggested sentence. What do you think?

Until recently, the pharmaceutical industry has seen relatively little competition and innovation in vaccines. The industry is now seeing such handsome money flowing in. MaxPharm changed the rules of the game; inspired by the Euro-American company, who made a great amount of profit out of their innovative vaccines, many pharmaceutical companies are now competing to manufacture more vaccines, against a wide array of diseases, than ever before.

Yankee · Answer

Hi HSS

I wrote "had seen" instinctively. In other words, I wasn't paying any special attention to which verb tense I used when I wrote the sentence. However, when I look at it again today, that is still the tense I would choose. You used the simple past tense in "changed the rules of the game", thus "little competition and innovation" came before that change. The past perfect reflects that. Here is my suggestion:

Until recently, the pharmaceutical industry had seen relatively little competition and innovation in vaccines. MaxPharm changed the rules of the game, and the industry is now seeing an unprecedented amount of money rolling in. Inspired by the Euro-American company, who (has) profited handsomely from its innovative vaccines, many pharmaceutical companies are now competing to manufacture more vaccines, against a wider array of diseases, than ever before.

Others may have additional ideas or input for you.

HSS · Answer

YankeeI wrote "had seen" instinctively. In other words, I wasn't paying any special attention to which verb tense I used when I wrote the sentence. However, when I look at it again today, that is still the tense I would choose.

Hi, Amy.

Seeing 'until recently' made me think it should be 'has seen.' I've thought 'until recently' could only be used with the past perfect or the simple past.

Thanks for your suggested changes. They are all marvelous.

Hiro

HSS · Answer

HSSI've thought 'until recently' could only be used with the past perfect or the simple past.

Ooops!!! I mean 'present past.' I was a space cadet.

Hiro

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