Distributive law in English sentences

Question

Hi everyone,I have a question with regards to the "distributive law" in English.Please refer to the following two sentences each of which is part of the definitions of the word "session" in a dictionary.Sentence 1:   a meeting or period of time used for a particular purpose... In sentence 1, does the reduced relative clause "used for a particular purpose" modify both "a meeting" and "a period of time", or does it only modify the noun "a period of time"? In addition, I have noticed that there is no article in front of "period of time" in this sentence. Is this because both "period of time" and "meeting" share the same article "a" to make the sentence more succinct? If I were to write it out in full, should the sentence be "a meeting or a period of time used for a particular purpose...".Sentence 2:   a formal meeting or group of meetings of an organization...As for this sentence, which of the two ideas below does the definition convey?   1) "a formal meeting of an organization or a group of meetings of an organization..."   2) "a formal meeting"   or  " a group of meetings of an organization"Does the phrase "of an organization" modify both "a formal meeting" and "a group of meetings" as shown in idea 1), or does it only modify the noun "a group of meetings" as given in idea 2)?What would I need to do to the sentence if I wanted to make the phrase "of an organization" modify only the noun "a group of meetings"? Can I rewrite it as given in the following?"a formal meeting, or (a) group of meetings of an organization..."  (with the help of a comma)  (Not sure if I need an additional article in front of the word group as a result of this modification)Thank you very much for your help Kenny

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

KennyLuI have a question with regards to the "distributive law" in English.

regard

KennyLuSentence 1: a meeting or period of time used for a particular purpose... In sentence 1, does the reduced relative clause "used for a particular purpose" modify both "a meeting" and "a period of time", or does it only modify the noun "a period of time"?

Both.

KennyLuIn addition, I have noticed that there is no article in front of "period of time" in this sentence. Is this because both "period of time" and "meeting" share the same article "a" to make the sentence more succinct?

Yes, but see below. A dicionary can get bulky quickly, and they save space whenever they can

KennyLuIf I were to write it out in full, should the sentence be "a meeting or a period of time used for a particular purpose...".

No. The repeating of the article makes the reader wonder whether the clause refers only to the second part.

KennyLuSentence 2: a formal meeting or group of meetings of an organization...As for this sentence, which of the two ideas below does the definition convey? 1) "a formal meeting of an organization or a group of meetings of an organization..." 2) "a formal meeting" or " a group of meetings of an organization"Does the phrase "of an organization" modify both "a formal meeting" and "a group of meetings" as shown in idea 1), or does it only modify the noun "a group of meetings" as given in idea 2)?

Number 1. This is built into the written language. There is no ambiguity when it is written like that, with the second article missing.

KennyLuWhat would I need to do to the sentence if I wanted to make the phrase "of an organization" modify only the noun "a group of meetings"? Can I rewrite it as given in the following?"a formal meeting, or (a) group of meetings of an organization..." (with the help of a comma) (Not sure if I need an additional article in front of the word group as a result of this modification)

The comma is insufficient with or without the article. That is not one of the purposes of a comma, and the reader wonders what it is doing there. Also, the "or" rules out separation of the two parts. I think the soluton is "A group of meetings of an organization; a formal meeting."

David Hatton · Answer

KennyLuSentence 1: a meeting or period of time used for a particular purpose... In sentence 1, does the reduced relative clause "used for a particular purpose" modify both "a meeting" and "a period of time"

Yes

KennyLuIn addition, I have noticed that there is no article in front of "period of time" in this sentence. Is this because both "period of time" and "meeting" share the same article "a" to make the sentence more succinct?

Yes - it's not necessary to use the extra article here although you can if you like. It certainly helps us to realise that the modifier is relevant to both nouns.

KennyLuSentence 2: a formal meeting or group of meetings of an organization...As for this sentence, which of the two ideas below does the definition convey?

1) "a formal meeting of an organization or a group of meetings of an organization..."

2) "a formal meeting" or " a group of meetings of an organization"

Again, the lack of article for the second part suggests we are to group them together (meaning 1).

KennyLuWhat would I need to do to the sentence if I wanted to make the phrase "of an organization" modify only the noun "a group of meetings"? Can I rewrite it as given in the following?

"a formal meeting, or (a) group of meetings of an organization..." (with the help of a comma)

(Not sure if I need an additional article in front of the word group as a result of this modification)

There is no absolute rule here, but to avoid confusion I would do as you have done. The comma separates the first idea from the second, while the extra 'a' allows the second idea to exist independently. It is as clear as it is reasonable to get that they are two separate things.

Distributive law in English sentences

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions