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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Misplaced modifier
Hi,
I have a question regarding this sentence: "They've beaten Sevilla 4-0 in their last three visits to the Nou Camp, but can they do it again?"
-The visiting team is Sevilla.
- Nou Camp is Barcelona's home ground
- Barcelona have beaten Sevilla in their three last games vs Sevilla.
The word "their" in this sentence should therefore be referring to Sevilla, but - grammatic-wise - it is referring back to "They've" = Barcelona.
So my question is: Isn't "their" referring back to "they've"/Barcelona? and not to the name of the other team - Sevilla.
Or am I completely wrong here, and if so, why?
Thank you in beforehand for your help and wisdom :-)
Best Regards,
Per H
I have a question regarding this sentence: "They've beaten Sevilla 4-0 in their last three visits to the Nou Camp, but can they do it again?"
-The visiting team is Sevilla.
- Nou Camp is Barcelona's home ground
- Barcelona have beaten Sevilla in their three last games vs Sevilla.
The word "their" in this sentence should therefore be referring to Sevilla, but - grammatic-wise - it is referring back to "They've" = Barcelona.
So my question is: Isn't "their" referring back to "they've"/Barcelona? and not to the name of the other team - Sevilla.
Or am I completely wrong here, and if so, why?
Thank you in beforehand for your help and wisdom :-)
Best Regards,
Per H
Top answer
It's not a misplaced modifier. It's an ambiguous antecedent. The first they is the home team - Barcelona, and the "their" refers to the visiting team.
- It's not a misplaced modifier.
- It's an ambiguous antecedent.
- The first they is the home team - Barcelona, and the "their" refers to the visiting team.
- You're correct.
- You need real-world knowledge.
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3 Answers
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It's not a misplaced modifier. It's an ambiguous antecedent.
The first they is the home team - Barcelona, and the "their" refers to the visiting team. You're correct.
You need real-world knowledge.
I didn't know which team was the home team, so the part I wouldn't know reading this sentence is who plays at home and who is visiting, but I would still know that the te
The first they is the home team - Barcelona, and the "their" refers to the visiting team. You're correct.
You need real-world knowledge.
I didn't know which team was the home team, so the part I wouldn't know reading this sentence is who plays at home and who is visiting, but I would still know that the te
00
"They've beaten Sevilla 4-0 in their last three visits to the Nou Camp, but can they do it again?"
Grammar Geek is correct. It's definitely ambiguous.
Furthermore, the implication to those without knowledge of the facts, is quite strong that "their" refers to the "They've" that precedes it, that is, Barcelona (which, given the facts you present, is clearly incorrect). So given
Grammar Geek is correct. It's definitely ambiguous.
Furthermore, the implication to those without knowledge of the facts, is quite strong that "their" refers to the "They've" that precedes it, that is, Barcelona (which, given the facts you present, is clearly incorrect). So given
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