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Supercat Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

, -ed?

My book says,

X-ray machines at your doctor's or dentist's office are usually bulky metal things of odd dimensions, painted some depressing shade of green or gray.

What is painted is "metal things", not odd dimensions because
a) "metal things" is the head noun.

b) it is semantically so.

c) When it's confusing, do you sometimes need to look for the noun modified by , -ed?
  

Top answer

Ask: what in the sentence could be painted some depressing shade of green or gray? Dimensions are abstract things, so they cannot be painted. The office could possibly be painted, but here, X-ray machines - bulky mental things - are mentioned, prime candidates for a coat of gray paint, so these would be what is painted.

— Anonymous

  • Ask: what in the sentence could be painted some depressing shade of green or gray?
  • Dimensions are abstract things, so they cannot be painted.
  • The office could possibly be painted, but here, X-ray machines - bulky mental things - are mentioned, prime candidates for a coat of gray paint, so these would be what is painted.
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5 Answers
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Ask: what in the sentence could be painted some depressing shade of green or gray? Dimensions are abstract things, so they cannot be painted. The office could possibly be painted, but here, X-ray machines - bulky mental things - are mentioned, prime candidates for a coat of gray paint, so these would be what is painted.
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AnonymousDimensions are abstract things, so they cannot be painted. The office could possibly be painted, but here, X-ray machines - bulky mental things - are mentioned, prime candidates for a coat of gray paint, so these would be what is painted.
You see "Dimensions are not painted because they're abstract things". I didn't know..
Painted => bulky meta
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SupercatWhat is painted is "metal things", not odd dimensions becausea) "metal things" is the head noun.b) it is semantically so.c) When it's confusing, do you sometimes need to look for the noun modified by , -ed?
C. You need to use common sense and personal knowledge.
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Mister Micawber C. You need to use common sense and personal knowledge.
! You remind me that my friend said the same thing before, too =3
I ask you to feed my cat:
Give him that fish on the kitchen top, grilled in advance.
The fish is grilled, not the kitchen top.
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SupercatGive him that fish on the kitchen top, grilled in advance.The fish is grilled, not the kitchen top.
Ha, ha!
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