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Cho7712 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
meaning
Doing the exercises of the linguistic text, I find some questionable example.
e.g. A sign at the entrance to a cafeteria line : It is not impolite
to pass others if there is space ahead.
What I am supposed to deal with is to find out the type of this sentence and what it really means.
So I think it is declarative sentence and its actual meaning is possibly to have to do with 'suggesting'.
However, the answer sheet shows that the former is imperative, the latter is an 'offer'.
First, it seems absolutely unthinkable to treat this sentence as imperative, so I think the answer sheet is wrong. You might agree with me, what about your view?
Second, about the real meaning of this sentence the owner(or the staff) of a cafeteria seems to have no actual will in performing the action by virtue of which the customers are positioned to the unfilled space ahead. So I think an offer is improper for this sentence meaning.
Then whoever wrote that sign in front of the cafeteria, one just intends the customers to notice it and follow it, I think.
So an expected agent of this sentence is hearers(customers) not the speaker. That leads me to thinking this sentence as suggesting not an offer. Then what is your view about this?
e.g. A sign at the entrance to a cafeteria line : It is not impolite
to pass others if there is space ahead.
What I am supposed to deal with is to find out the type of this sentence and what it really means.
So I think it is declarative sentence and its actual meaning is possibly to have to do with 'suggesting'.
However, the answer sheet shows that the former is imperative, the latter is an 'offer'.
First, it seems absolutely unthinkable to treat this sentence as imperative, so I think the answer sheet is wrong. You might agree with me, what about your view?
Second, about the real meaning of this sentence the owner(or the staff) of a cafeteria seems to have no actual will in performing the action by virtue of which the customers are positioned to the unfilled space ahead. So I think an offer is improper for this sentence meaning.
Then whoever wrote that sign in front of the cafeteria, one just intends the customers to notice it and follow it, I think.
So an expected agent of this sentence is hearers(customers) not the speaker. That leads me to thinking this sentence as suggesting not an offer. Then what is your view about this?
Top answer
My answer will be brief, and perhaps unsatisfactory for you. I believe that the sentence is declarative, not imperative. I think the suggestion is clear: if someone in front of you is dealing with a selection and there is a space in front of him, you can feel free to pass him in order to keep the line moving along.
- My answer will be brief, and perhaps unsatisfactory for you.
- I believe that the sentence is declarative, not imperative.
- I think the suggestion is clear: if someone in front of you is dealing with a selection and there is a space in front of him, you can feel free to pass him in order to keep the line moving along.
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2 Answers
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My answer will be brief, and perhaps unsatisfactory for you.
I believe that the sentence is declarative, not imperative. I think the suggestion is clear: if someone in front of you is dealing with a selection and there is a space in front of him, you can feel free to pass him in order to keep the line moving along.
I believe that the sentence is declarative, not imperative. I think the suggestion is clear: if someone in front of you is dealing with a selection and there is a space in front of him, you can feel free to pass him in order to keep the line moving along.
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Thank you for the answer,
And I find it more convincing that my thinking is not that deviant by your reply. It really helps.
And I find it more convincing that my thinking is not that deviant by your reply. It really helps.
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