0
Believer Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
Is it definite?
Let's assume that in the middle of a newspaper article you found this sentence and I want to ask you whether it is appropriate to refer to the one underlined in a way that seems to be very general.
She said she met with junior South Korean officials at the Foreign Ministry.
Would not it more appropriate to specify or limit the scope of the referant as to give the reader much clear picture as who is being referred and what is being said? Maybe more appropriate to say:
some junior South Korean officials
some junior South Korean officials whom she was suppose to meet
She said she met with junior South Korean officials at the Foreign Ministry.
Would not it more appropriate to specify or limit the scope of the referant as to give the reader much clear picture as who is being referred and what is being said? Maybe more appropriate to say:
some junior South Korean officials
some junior South Korean officials whom she was suppose to meet
Top answer
I agree that the word "some" make sense to insert there. But you wouldn't really say "she met with some junior officials with whom she was supposed to meet" would you? " It sounds absurd.
- I agree that the word "some" make sense to insert there.
- But you wouldn't really say "she met with some junior officials with whom she was supposed to meet" would you?
- " It sounds absurd.
- Perhaps because "junior officials" already has more meaningn to me than perhaps to you?
- Senior officials make decisions and advise the leader of the country.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
2 Answers
0
I agree that the word "some" make sense to insert there.
But you wouldn't really say "she met with some junior officials with whom she was supposed to meet" would you?
That's like saying "I went shopping at some stores at which I was supposed to go shopping." It sounds absurd.
Perhaps because "junior officials" already has more meaningn to me than perhaps to you? Senior
But you wouldn't really say "she met with some junior officials with whom she was supposed to meet" would you?
That's like saying "I went shopping at some stores at which I was supposed to go shopping." It sounds absurd.
Perhaps because "junior officials" already has more meaningn to me than perhaps to you? Senior
00
"Some" has a note of informality and lack of elegance which is to be avoided in such press releases.
I wouldn't use it here, esp as the meaning of the original phrase wouldn't really be changed.
"She met with junior officials" already has, at least to me, the connotation of "some junior officials"
I wouldn't use it here, esp as the meaning of the original phrase wouldn't really be changed.
"She met with junior officials" already has, at least to me, the connotation of "some junior officials"
0
Related Questions