Making weapons or from making weapons

Question

Nuclear technology is now so widespread that it is only political will which stops many countries from making nuclear weapons.

Some countries make nuclear weapons. In the above, you will read the words 'many countries from making nuclear weapons. I don't see the difference between countries making nuclear weapons and countries from making nuclear weapons.

Would you tell me the difference?

Casi · Accepted Answer

1. Stop countries from making weapons. (i.e., all countries)
2. Stop countries making weapons (i.e., only countries that are already making weapons)

In 1., all countries, those who make weapons and those who haven't but have the technology to make weapons should be stopped. In 2., Only those countries that are already making weapons should be stopped.

Andrei · Answer

Casi

Thanks for the reply and I respect to your prowess in English.

Let us look at the third and fourth sentences. According to your explanation, the third sentence refers to all the countries whereas the fourth sentence refers to the countries already making them.

Please tell me whether my understanding is correct. This is a very interesting grammar point. I can never ever conceive the difference in the meaning between the two sentences.

3)Nuclear technology is now so widespread that it is only political will which stops many countries from making nuclear weapons.

4)Nuclear technology is now so widespread that it is only political will which stops many countries making nuclear weapons.

CalifJim · Answer

Andrei,

You have come across a "catenative structure" -- two verbs in a row. (stop, make)

In English, there are specific connecting words which are used between two verbs. It depends on the first verb. The first verb governs the connecting word and the form of the second verb.

Some verbs take no link (connecting word), e.g, let, make.
Let me see your new coat. (let, see)
Make that dog sit and be quiet! (let, sit / be )

Some verbs take no link, but the second verb has the -ing form, e.g., remember, avoid
I remember being surprised by what he said. (remember, be)
Avoid carrying too many books at once. (avoid, carry)

Some take the "to" of the infinitive form, e.g., want, prefer
I want you to see my new coat. (want, see)
Do you prefer to read it yourself? (prefer, read)

Some take a preposition and the -ing form, e.g., stop (from), keep (from), worry (about)
That won't stop us from going later. (stop, go)
That won't keep us from going later. (keep, go)
Phil always worries about arriving late. (worry, arrive)

To complicate matters, some verbs (including a few shown above) can occur in more than one pattern, usually two. In some cases the meaning is the same for both patterns; in some cases the meaning is different if a different catenative structure is used!

In the case of "stop", I can think of three ways to link:

I stopped to smell the roses. (I discontinued (walking, moving) and smelled the roses.)
The child finally stopped crying. (The child was no longer crying.)
The barrier stopped the car from going over the cliff. (The barrier prevented the disaster.)

"stop countries making weapons" is ungrammatical if the meaning "prevent" is desired.
But it is fine if the meaning is "stop (those) countries which make weapons"

You can even have both structures in the same sentence:

We want to stop countries making weapons from continuing this practice.

Andrei · Answer

Thanks Calif. You have given a lengthy reply. I must read it carefully to understand your points.

Casi · Answer

Sentences? Ooh...

3) Nuclear technology is now so widespread that politics is the only way to stop countries from producing nuclear weapons. (i.e., stop all countries, those presently producing weapons and those who have yet to produce weapons.) Note, To stop all Xs from doing Y.

4) Nuclear technology is now so widespread that politics is the only way to stop countries producing nuclear weapons ~ that produce nuclear weapons ~ nuclear weapon producing countries (i.e., stop only those countries that are presenty producing weapons and who have already produced weapons.) Note, To stop X + Adjective. Which X? Only the Xs that are described by the Adjective:

X + Adjective: countries producing weapons / countries that produce weapons
Adjective + X: weapon producing countries

Making weapons or from making weapons

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