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Ryan Johnson Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Grammar question

I know that this sentence is wrong:

The best trap catching hungry mice

I know that it should be:

The best trap (for) catching hungry mice.

Why does the 'for' need to be there? In terms of grammar, why is the first sentence wrong?

Ryan.
  

Top answer

Ryan Johnson The best trap catching hungry mice A plain reading of that yields a phrase meaning, "the trap that is better than all the others presently in the act of catching hungry mice".

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  • Ryan Johnson The best trap catching hungry mice A plain reading of that yields a phrase meaning, "the trap that is better than all the others presently in the act of catching hungry mice".
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10 Answers
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Ryan JohnsonThe best trap catching hungry mice
A plain reading of that yields a phrase meaning, "the trap that is better than all the others presently in the act of catching hungry mice".
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Thanks for the reply!

I don't really understand what you mean by a 'plain reading'?

What I want to know is what is wrong with a phrase that goes:

determiner/adjective/noun - verb(ing) - adjective/noun

Why does it have to be:

determiner/adjective/noun - preposition/verb(ing) - adjective/noun

What is the grammatical rule that makes it necessary t
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Ryan JohnsonI don't really understand what you mean by a 'plain reading'?
I mean that without applying any intelligence to try to figure out what the writer really means, that is the nonsense you get. The "for" is necessary for the meaning, grammar aside. The trap is "for" that.
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Yea.. it isn't much of a sentence without 'for'. I was just wondering if there was a grammatical principle that explains why the for needs to be there.

I need to explain why the first sentence is wrong and I'm finding it very difficult!
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Ryan JohnsonI need to explain why the first sentence is wrong
Both are 'wrong' because neither is a sentence; they are simply noun phrases, and either could be used in its appropriate context.

The best trap catching hungry mice is the one in the darkest corner of my kitchen.
The best trap for catching hungry mice is one with a stainless
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Great answer! Thank you.
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If I understand correctly, the noun phrase has to be connected to another type of phrase for it to be a sentence?
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Ryan JohnsonIf I understand correctly, the noun phrase has to be connected to another type of phrase for it to be a sentence?
At least, yes. It needs a main verb.
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I thought 'catching' was the main verb?
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Ryan JohnsonI thought 'catching' was the main verb?
No, the main verb of a sentence must have a tense/time.
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