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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Is it OK to say...?
Hello, I am learning English and came across a question, which I can't understand (below).
"Were I wealthy, ( ) I'm not, I would still go to work every day."
A: so B: what C: which D: while
In the text, the answer is "C:which". But I think "D: while" also seems to fit in here. Is it unnatural to say so? Or grammatically incorrect? Then, why? Please tell me...Thanks in advance.
"Were I wealthy, ( ) I'm not, I would still go to work every day."
A: so B: what C: which D: while
In the text, the answer is "C:which". But I think "D: while" also seems to fit in here. Is it unnatural to say so? Or grammatically incorrect? Then, why? Please tell me...Thanks in advance.
Top answer
Hi, In fact, the phrase which I'm not is redundant, and I'm not clear why that question is given to you at all. Were I wealthy , which means if I were wealthy , already indicates that you are speaking of a hypothetical situation. That sentece says something like this: Were I wealthy, which is something that I'm not, I would...
- Hi, In fact, the phrase which I'm not is redundant, and I'm not clear why that question is given to you at all.
- Were I wealthy , which means if I were wealthy , already indicates that you are speaking of a hypothetical situation.
- That sentece says something like this: Were I wealthy, which is something that I'm not, I would...
- In this case, which is supposed to provide additional information about the fact that you are not wealthy, but as I've already mentioned, it is not necessary and even unnatural to place that phrase there; it should be removed.
- While is not appropriate because, once again, were I wealthy already denotes that you are not wealthy at the moment.
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2 Answers
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Hi,
In fact, the phrase which I'm not is redundant, and I'm not clear why that question is given to you at all.
Were I wealthy, which means if I were wealthy, already indicates that you are speaking of a hypothetical
situation.
That sentece says something like this:
Were I wealthy, which is something that I'm not, I would...
In
In fact, the phrase which I'm not is redundant, and I'm not clear why that question is given to you at all.
Were I wealthy, which means if I were wealthy, already indicates that you are speaking of a hypothetical
situation.
That sentece says something like this:
Were I wealthy, which is something that I'm not, I would...
In
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Hi,
Thank you for replying and giving me a detailed explanation:-)
I understood why while is not appropriate here and
was surprised to know the original sentence is unnatural at all.
The question is in a textbook for college entrance exams in Japan.
It seems it contains lots of unnatural sentences...
Thank you for replying and giving me a detailed explanation:-)
I understood why while is not appropriate here and
was surprised to know the original sentence is unnatural at all.
The question is in a textbook for college entrance exams in Japan.
It seems it contains lots of unnatural sentences...
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