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Tashiro Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Grammar

Hi, please help me.

"I get really angry when I see someone driving while talking on a mobile phone."

Is the above sentence odd? Someone told me that it was odd and that the below sentence was right. But I don't know why.

"I get really angry when I see someone talking on a mobile phone while driving."
  

Top answer

Well, grammatically, there isn't anything wrong with your first sentence; however, the first sentence is, indeed, odd in a way that it emphasizes 'talking on a mobile phone' more. I'd try to explain this by using a concept of primary and secondary things. Primary in this sentence of yours is driving, and therefore, talking is secondary.

— Karansardana

  • Well, grammatically, there isn't anything wrong with your first sentence; however, the first sentence is, indeed, odd in a way that it emphasizes 'talking on a mobile phone' more.
  • I'd try to explain this by using a concept of primary and secondary things.
  • Primary in this sentence of yours is driving, and therefore, talking is secondary.
  • Driving while talking suggests that the 'talking' is the user's main activity, and it's the driving that is interfering in his talking.
  • However, user intends to suggest otherwise, and wants to mean that it's the talking that is interfering in his driving.
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3 Answers
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Well, grammatically, there isn't anything wrong with your first sentence; however, the first sentence is, indeed, odd in a way that it emphasizes 'talking on a mobile phone' more.

I'd try to explain this by using a concept of primary and secondary things.

Primary in this sentence of yours is driving, and therefore, talking is secondary.

Driving while talking suggests th
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I'm going to explain in the following way:

I'm getting really angry, when someone is to be seen talking on mobile during driving.

Please inform me of having done so, if there is any mistake.

Thanks
IBANKER
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tashiroIs the above sentence odd?
Yes. The real reason for your anger is not the driving, but the talking.

CJ
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