0
Mitsuo23 Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Is this grammatically correct?
Hi,
The sentence below is from a book, and I would like to know if the underlined part is grammatically correct. I think there should be an "of" or at least a "," after box.
Here were people who packed two hundred pounds of dishes into a single box the size of a doghouse, or even worse, people who didn't pack at all.
Thank you,
M
The sentence below is from a book, and I would like to know if the underlined part is grammatically correct. I think there should be an "of" or at least a "," after box.
Here were people who packed two hundred pounds of dishes into a single box the size of a doghouse, or even worse, people who didn't pack at all.
Thank you,
M
Top answer
this is correct "a single box" here emphasizes that they got a lot of dishes (two hundred pounds worth) into just one box - not two or three, but one. But that box was larger than normal, because the box was as large as a doghouse. So the point is these people were very bad at packing, because everyone knows you want to pack dishes in smaller boxes so they aren't so heavy to carry, and aren't as likely to break due to jostling during travel.
- this is correct "a single box" here emphasizes that they got a lot of dishes (two hundred pounds worth) into just one box - not two or three, but one.
- But that box was larger than normal, because the box was as large as a doghouse.
- So the point is these people were very bad at packing, because everyone knows you want to pack dishes in smaller boxes so they aren't so heavy to carry, and aren't as likely to break due to jostling during travel.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
5 Answers
0
this is correct
"a single box" here emphasizes that they got a lot of dishes (two hundred pounds worth) into just one box - not two or three, but one. But that box was larger than normal, because the box was as large as a doghouse. So the point is these people were very bad at packing, because everyone knows you want to pack dishes in smaller boxes so they aren't so heavy to carry, and ar
"a single box" here emphasizes that they got a lot of dishes (two hundred pounds worth) into just one box - not two or three, but one. But that box was larger than normal, because the box was as large as a doghouse. So the point is these people were very bad at packing, because everyone knows you want to pack dishes in smaller boxes so they aren't so heavy to carry, and ar
00
0
Hi guys, thank you for the reply.
-stephenmatlock,
I understand exactly what it means. My question is, why there's no comma between "box" and "the size". "the size of a dog house" is an additional information about "the size" so there should be a comma there, I believe.
Thank you,
m
-stephenmatlock,
I understand exactly what it means. My question is, why there's no comma between "box" and "the size". "the size of a dog house" is an additional information about "the size" so there should be a comma there, I believe.
Thank you,
m
00
Commas don't have exact rules, even though people say there do. You can always find someone to say you need them, and someone to say you don't. I go with the "use them to clarify an ambiguity, but if the sentence can stand without them, leave it out."
In this case, the comma doesn't add any clarity. The box the size of a doghouse is clear without the comma. The box, the size of a doghous
In this case, the comma doesn't add any clarity. The box the size of a doghouse is clear without the comma. The box, the size of a doghous
00
great explanation and sounds quite convincing. Thank you, that's exactly what I wanted to know.
M
M
0
Related Questions