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Bvpraveen Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
...killed in the accident...
Dear Friends,
Look at this sentence : "Twenty persons were KILLED in the accident".
During an accident we aren't actually "killing" someone. So, I suppose this sentence should be : "Twenty persons DIED in the accident" or "Twenty persons DEAD in the accident"
Am I correct? Or perhaps give an explanation for the usage of the word 'killed' in this context.
Praveen.
Look at this sentence : "Twenty persons were KILLED in the accident".
During an accident we aren't actually "killing" someone. So, I suppose this sentence should be : "Twenty persons DIED in the accident" or "Twenty persons DEAD in the accident"
Am I correct? Or perhaps give an explanation for the usage of the word 'killed' in this context.
Praveen.
Top answer
I can see what you mean but 'killed' needn't result from a deliberate action. He drank a cup of poison. The poison killed him.
- I can see what you mean but 'killed' needn't result from a deliberate action.
- He drank a cup of poison.
- The poison killed him.
- The panes of glass fell from the top of the building and killed the man.
- It is really the only good option when we have an active rather than passive sentence.
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7 Answers
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I can see what you mean but 'killed' needn't result from a deliberate action.
He drank a cup of poison. The poison killed him.
The panes of glass fell from the top of the building and killed the man.
It is really the only good option when we have an active rather than passive sentence. I don't see why it can't be used in the passive as well.
He drank a cup of poison. The poison killed him.
The panes of glass fell from the top of the building and killed the man.
It is really the only good option when we have an active rather than passive sentence. I don't see why it can't be used in the passive as well.
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Dear Nona-the-Brit,
Thanks for your valuable information.
Then, I suppose this sentence is correct : "The accident killed 20 persons". Am I right?
Praveen.
Thanks for your valuable information.
Then, I suppose this sentence is correct : "The accident killed 20 persons". Am I right?
Praveen.
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"The accident killed 20 persons" is perfectly OK. So is "the fire which killed 2 toddlers in Houston may be the work of an arsonist", and so on.
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I think I'd be inclined to say "20 people died in the accident".
The use of the demonstrative "the" implies that we already know about the accident, and I don't know that "the accident" killed them. Ultimately, they died from the injuries they sustained in the accident, and the causative agent is probably whatever caused the accident to happen rather than the accident itself.
The use of the demonstrative "the" implies that we already know about the accident, and I don't know that "the accident" killed them. Ultimately, they died from the injuries they sustained in the accident, and the causative agent is probably whatever caused the accident to happen rather than the accident itself.
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Oh no..Lots of confusion when two senior memebers have different views. Which idea to be taken as correct?
Dead or Killed.
Abbie, maybe it sounds better, if we employ them as :
Dead: 'Twenty people died in THE accident'
Killed : 'Twenty people were killed in AN accident'
[ Meanwhile Abbie, I've learned that we shouldn't use numbers figuratively when i
Dead or Killed.
Abbie, maybe it sounds better, if we employ them as :
Dead: 'Twenty people died in THE accident'
Killed : 'Twenty people were killed in AN accident'
[ Meanwhile Abbie, I've learned that we shouldn't use numbers figuratively when i
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The thing about language is that it is constantly evolving, and 2 different opinions may be equally correct. You'll note i just said "I think I'd be inclined to say ...." - it's just different ways of using it langage, whcih is why it's such fun!
I like both your sentences above, and I think you are correct to to use "twenty"
I like both your sentences above, and I think you are correct to to use "twenty"
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Ok Abbie, Got it cleared.
Since, our newspaper employs 'killed', I will go by its way!
Since, our newspaper employs 'killed', I will go by its way!
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