John did favor them because Michael was sleeping with his wife

Question

Is the given text correct?John did favor them because Michael was sleeping with his wife and perhaps this made John happy and he supported Michael's gang!

Avangi · Accepted Answer

I'd use a comma after "wife."

The last clause is one clause too many for the sentence. Contextually, it just comes off the wall.

The third clause supports the second, but the fourth one goes back to support the first one. It's very strange to read.

You can say, "John did favor them because he supported Michael's gang." That would make sense.

Jackson6612 · Answer

AvangiThe last clause is one clause too many for the sentence. Contextually, it just comes off the wall.

What do you mean by the highlighted text? I would have written: The last clause makes it too many for the sentence. Is my way also acceptable?

'comes off the wall' means 'very strange' or 'unconventional'. Right?

AvangiYou can say, "John did favor them because he supported Michael's gang." That would make sense.

But then it wouldn't explain the reason why John supported Michael's gang.

Perhaps, I should have written something like 'John did favor them because Michael was sleeping with his wife and perhaps this made John happy and this made him to support Michael's gang!

BarbaraPA · Answer

I'm sorry, but this sentence makes NO sense!

Jackson6612Is the given text correct?

John did favor them because Michael was sleeping with his wife and perhaps this made John happy and he supported Michael's gang!

Michael was sleeping with John's wife?

Michael was sleeping with his own wife? Who does "his" refer to? Why would Michael sleeping with either woman make John happy?

What did you mean to say be "John did favor them"?

Jackson6612 · Answer

Grammar GeekMichael was sleeping with John's wife?

Yes.

Grammar GeekWho does "his" refer to?

John.

Grammar GeekWhy would Michael sleeping with either woman make John happy?

Because he was of that type of men who wanted their women to be used by other men so they didn't have to worry about satisfying them.

Grammar GeekWhat did you mean to say be "John did favor them"?

John supported them. John extended his favors to them.

MrPernickety · Answer

Jackson6612Is the given text correct?

John did favor them because Michael was sleeping with his wife and perhaps this made John happy and he supported Michael's gang!

Incidentally, did you really mean "John did favor them"?

Or, on the off chance, maybe you meant "John did them a favor because Michael was sleeping with hsi wife"

Just an idea

EDIT: On any given day, people are infuriated by the fact that they are being cheated on. Clearly, John's wife is cheating on him, yet he seems to be on board with that ! Your story doesn't add up aat all

Jackson6612 · Answer

MrPernicketyOn any given day, people are infuriated by the fact that they are being cheated on. Clearly, John's wife is cheating on him, yet he seems to be on board with that ! Your story doesn't add up aat all

There are all kinds of people out there. There are some who likes to swing their wives around, some who makes their wives strip in front of their friends, and some who knowingly lets their wives cheat on them. So, John is not a very bizarre case.

MrPernickety · Answer

Jackson6612There are all kinds of people out there. There are some who likes to swing their wives around, some who makes their wives strip in front of their friends, and some who knowingly lets their wives cheat on them. So, John is not a very bizarre case.

Oh, dear !

I shudder to think what you consider "a bizzare case"

)))

Jackson6612 · Answer

MrPernicketyI shudder to think what you consider "a bizzare case"

Sorry, MrPernickety, I cannot explain it here.

I will leave this to your imagination!

Avangi · Answer

Jackson6612
AvangiThe last clause is one clause too many for the sentence. Contextually, it just comes off the wall.
What do you mean by the highlighted text? I would have written: The last clause makes it too many for the sentence. Is my way also acceptable? Your computer must have a different color scheme than mine. When you use these really dark highlighting tones I can barely make out the words - sometimes "not even," as the kids say.

I don't think your version works as well. I felt compelled to repeat the word "clause," because it's not customary to measure sentences by the number of clauses. But this sentence is organized into four clauses which have an interesting relationship to each other. It was just a device I used to point out where I think the sentence goes astray.

'comes off the wall' means 'very strange' or 'unconventional'. Right? Yes.
AvangiYou can say, "John did favor them because he supported Michael's gang." That would make sense.
But then it wouldn't explain the reason why John supported Michael's gang. I think you're among a number of learners who often try to put everything they know about a subject into one sentence. You may have the logical development of your point clearly in mind when you write the sentence, but please have a little more consideration for the poor reader. Try putting yourself in his shoes. Allow him to gain some sense of where your argument is going.

Perhaps, I should have written something like 'John did favor them because Michael was sleeping with his wife and perhaps this made John happy and this made him to support Michael's gang!

It's still a little breathless. It's like driving down a mountain road with nothing but hairpins. It's nice to have an occasional straightaway.

Avangi · Answer

Jackson6612Perhaps, I should have written something like 'John did favor them because Michael was sleeping with his wife and perhaps this made John happy and this made him to support Michael's gang!

I had intended to mention the bare infinitive. To use the "to" infinitive with the verb "to make" is reminiscent of King James English: "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures."

In modern English you could say, "and this made him happy to support Michael's gang," or "and this caused him to support Michael's gang," but not "and this made him to support Michael's gang."

(You should at least put commas between these clauses. They're very very independent!)

John did favor them because Michael was sleeping with his wife

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