I have some articles to be translated.

Question

Hi All,How do you personally interpret this sentence "I have some articles to be translated."? How different is this sentence from another sentence "I have some articles that need to be translated."?Thanks in advance for your input

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]Hi All, How do you personally interpret this sentence "I have some articles to be translated."? How different is this sentence from another sentence "I have some articles that need to be translated."? Thanks in advance for your input[/nq]
I personally interpret it as badly punctuated. Put the question mark after 'sentence' in the first line, or use a semi colon there, leave the question mark as is, and delete the full stop after 'translated'.

Usenet · Answer

Freddy wrote on 15 Apr 2004:
[nq:2]Hi All, How do you personally interpret this sentence "I ... sentence "I have some articles that need to be translated."?[/nq]
To answer the OP's question:
They can be considered semantically equivalent. The first sentence is more informal and slightly incomplete without the "that need". This is neither grammatically nor semantically significant, it seems to me. The only possible ambiguity introduced by that omission is that the person reading or hearing the sentence doesn't know whether only you want the articles translated for some personal, whimsical reason, or whether the articles have to be translated for a more substantial reason. That should not be a problem unless the person being told that the articles are to be translated will be wasting valuable time (translating or finding a translator) on something silly and useless instead of spending that time on something valuable and necessary.
[nq:2]Thanks in advance for your input[/nq]
Please be more patient and wait until you've received what you've asked for to thank anyone.
[nq:1]I personally interpret it as badly punctuated. Put the question mark after 'sentence' in the first line, or use a semi colon there, leave the question mark as is, and delete the full stop after 'translated'.[/nq]
"personally" is a verbosity and should be deleted. Putting "the question mark after 'sentence' in the first line, or (using) a semi- colon there" is not good punctuation in either case; (Here it doesn't really matter; either a colon or a semi-colon will do) a colon is best. "another sentence" is also a verbosity and should be deleted. I do agree about the full stop after "translated" in each case, though.

This, it seems to me, is how the OP's OP should read and be punctuated:
"How do you interpret this sentence: 'I have some articles to be translated'? How different is this sentence from 'I have some articles that need to be translated'?"

Franke: EFL teacher & medical editor.
For email, ehziuh htiw rehpycrebyc ecalper.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]This, it seems to me, is how the OP's OP should read and be punctuated: "How do you interpret this sentence: 'I have some articles to be translated'? How different is this sentence from 'I have some articles that need to be translated'?"[/nq]
A different point...
I would use "articles that need to be translated" only casually. In writing, I would avoid using "need" as the verb for "the articles" as if the articles are the entity in need.
That is, I feel that the articles don't need anything. The speaker needs to have the articles translated. Thus, the first sentence (as you render it) is fine; in the second, I would add "I" or "we" before "need."
What do you think?
Maria Conlon
A very great part of the mischiefs
that vex this world arises from words. (Edmund Burke)

Usenet · Answer

Maria Conlon wrote on 16 Apr 2004:
[nq:2]This, it seems to me, is how the OP's OP ... from 'I have some articles that need to be translated'?"[/nq]
[nq:1]A different point... I would use "articles that need to be translated" only casually. In writing, I would avoid using "need" as the verb for "the articles" as if the articles are the entity in need.[/nq]
I don't see anything unusual or especially casual about "These articles {need translating / to be translated}. It is elliptical, yes, because neither the specific person who who wants or needs them translated nor the specific reason they need translating is mentioned, but I suspect that context would make this clear. I wouldn't be surprised, though, if such sentences are more often expressed as, eg, "I need these translated before 5:00 p.m. tomorrow" or "The boss wants you to translate these in time for the 8:00 a.m. meeting tomorrow".
[nq:1]That is, I feel that the articles don't need anything. The speaker needs to have the articles translated. Thus, the first sentence (as you render it) is fine; in the second, I would add "I" or "we" before "need." What do you think?[/nq]
I agree with your logic, Maria, but I think that "these articles need {translating / to be translated}" is idiomatic and, therefore, not subject to logical criticism. But how I'd write or say it in any given context depends upon the context; I don't think it's necessary to say who has the need and why if they are understood.

Franke: EFL teacher & medical editor.
For email, ehziuh htiw rehpycrebyc ecalper.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I would use "articles that need to be translated" only casually. In writing, I would avoid using "need" as the verb for "the articles" as if the articles are the entity in need.[/nq]
Right on.
[nq:1]That is, I feel that the articles don't need anything. The speaker needs to have the articles translated. Thus, the first sentence (as you render it) is fine; in the second, I would add "I" or "we" before "need." What do you think?[/nq]
Close, but only half a cigar.
Miss Manners, I presume, and I would word it 'I have some articles I'd like translated'. 'Need' is too strong, in this context.
Charles Riggs
My email address: chriggs/at/eircom/dot/net

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Hi All, How do you personally interpret this sentence "I ... need to be translated."? Thanks in advance for your input[/nq]
[nq:1]I personally interpret it as badly punctuated. Put the question mark after 'sentence' in the first line, or use a semi colon there, leave the question mark as is, and delete the full stop after 'translated'.[/nq]
You must really enjoy helping people.

Rob Bannister

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Robert Bannister wrote on 17 Apr 2004:
[nq:2]I personally interpret it as badly punctuated. Put the question ... mark as is, and delete the full stop after 'translated'.[/nq]
[nq:1]You must really enjoy helping people.[/nq]
There's a language school in Tokyo that's famous for one of its billboard adverts that says "We have to be cruel to be kind".

Franke: EFL teacher & medical editor.
For email, ehziuh htiw rehpycrebyc ecalper.

Usenet · Answer

Possibly, but I don't think it's rude in the proper circumstances that is, if one is speaking with the very person who does translations. But your MM version is quite polite and might be more readily responded to in an affirmative way than my version.
I'd like the rest of the cigar now, please.
Maria Conlon
S. J. Perelman once reported that the director Ernst Lubitsch was seen "smoking a cucumber and looking cool as a cigar."

I have some articles to be translated.

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