0
Park sang joon Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
He wrote [impressing] upon him his great need
The protagonist, Philip's friend Cronshaw is going to die for illness.
Cronshaw's friend Leonard Upjohn promised Cronshaw that he will have Cronshaw's poems published.
........................................
Cronshaw was in want of money. Since his illness he had found it more difficult than ever to work steadily; he made barely enough to keep himself in liquor; and when Upjohn wrote to him that this publisher and the other, though admiring the poems, thought it not worth while to publish them, Cronshaw began to grow interested. He wrote impressing upon Upjohn his great need and urging him to make more strenuous efforts.
[Of Human Bondage by Somerset Maugham]
I'd like to know why it is "impressing," not "(in order) to impress."
Thank you in advance for your help.
Cronshaw's friend Leonard Upjohn promised Cronshaw that he will have Cronshaw's poems published.
........................................
Cronshaw was in want of money. Since his illness he had found it more difficult than ever to work steadily; he made barely enough to keep himself in liquor; and when Upjohn wrote to him that this publisher and the other, though admiring the poems, thought it not worth while to publish them, Cronshaw began to grow interested. He wrote impressing upon Upjohn his great need and urging him to make more strenuous efforts.
[Of Human Bondage by Somerset Maugham]
I'd like to know why it is "impressing," not "(in order) to impress."
Thank you in advance for your help.
Top answer
park sang joon I'd like to know why it is "impressing," not "(in order) to impress. It is a style choice.
- park sang joon I'd like to know why it is "impressing," not "(in order) to impress.
- It is a style choice.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
6 Answers
0
park sang joonI'd like to know why it is "impressing," not "(in order) to impress.It is a style choice.
00
Thank you, Mr. Micawber, for yet another So very kind answer from you. 
Then I was wondering what "impressing" means here.
Then I was wondering what "impressing" means here.
00
park sang joonThen I was wondering what "impressing" means here.'impress on/upon' = 3. to urge, as something to be remembered or done:She impressed the need for action on them.
00
park sang joonHe wrote impressing upon Upjohn his great need and urging him to make more strenuous efforts.
Then I was wondering what "impressing" means here.I'm not saying the sentence is wrong but I would have put a comma after wrote:
- He wrote, impressing upon Upjohn his great need and urging him to
00
SoSaysSunnyI would have put a comma after wrote:It's because you are writing in 2016, whereas the original was written in 1915. There's a world of stylistic differences between writing of the Edwardian Age and the Information Age.
00
AlpheccaStarsIt's because you are writing in 2016, whereas the original was written in 1915. There's a world of stylistic differences between writing of the Edwardian Age and the Information Age.I meant no disrespect to the author and agree completely. My comment was about constructing new sentences in today's English.
FYI: I'm a little timid about
0
Related Questions