Having respect for and devotion to the natural world

Question

Having respect for and devotion to the natural world need not be limited to a special Thanksgiving holiday. It can fill our lives every day throughout the year.Hi,Is it right to interpret the bold in the above as "respecting and devoting to the natural world?"Besides, what does the bolded "It" refer to? Does it refer to "having respect for and devotion to ...?" If yes, then should it be plural "they" because of the two different things?" Thanks.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

Having respect for and devotion to the natural world need not be limited to a special Thanksgiving holiday. It can fill our lives every day throughout the year.

Is it right to interpret the bold in the above as "respecting and devoting to the natural world?" Yes

Besides, what does the bolded "It" refer to? Does it refer to "having respect for and devotion to ...?" Yes

If yes, then should it be plural "they" because of the two different things?" No. The writer is consdiering these two very similar things to be part of a single 'attitude'.

Best wishes, Clive

Yankee · Answer

Hi Angliholic

Yes, that is what "it" refers to.
No, I would not use "they".

You might look at "having respect for and devotion to the natural world" as a way of thinking or as a particular mindset. "Respect for and devotion to the natural world" are viewed collectively as a single way of thinking.

Or you might look at it this way:

Having = the possession = it

EDIT:
Oops! I see Clive was faster than I was. (As usual.)

Avangi · Answer

No. Each adjective takes its own (different) preposition.

When you switch to the verbals, you have new problems. They don't work in parallel.

You have respect for X.

You can devote the next four hours to homework.
You can devote yourself to improving.
You can be devoted to improving.
(You can respect the world, but you can't devote the world.)

"It" refers to the entire bolded participial phrase.

I don't understand where you want to put the "they."
The simple subject is "having," which is singular. You might suspect the verb "need" is plural, but it's actually subjunctive singular.

"Money and power are intoxicating." (compound subject, plural verb)

"Money and power need not be beyond your reach." (compound subject, subjunctive plural verb)
"Having money and power is intoxicating." (singular subject)

"Having money and power need not be beyond your reach." (subjunctive singular verb)

Oh, drat!

Edit. Okay, I see where you want to put "they." You want "they" to be the subject of the sentence, and the bolded participial phrase to modify it. Yes, you could do that, but it's certainly not necessary. Furthermore, it would require prior context, as there's no antecedent for "they" - certainly not respect and devotion.
"Jack and Jill are very happy. Having love for and devotion to each other, they decided to go up the hill." OR ". . . . they need not work for a living."

Having respect for and devotion to the natural world

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