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Taka Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Modification
Parents often make the mistake of expecting a child to do certain things before its body and brain have developed enough for it to be able to do them.
About the part in bold, which part does it modify?
1. do certain things
2. expecting a child to do certain things
3. make the mistake (of expecting...)
About the part in bold, which part does it modify?
1. do certain things
2. expecting a child to do certain things
3. make the mistake (of expecting...)
Top answer
Hi, I see it as #1. ie Parents often make the mistake of expecting a child ( to do certain things before its body and brain have developed enough for it to be able to do them . ) Do you think it's necessary to say 'for it to be able to do them'?
- Hi, I see it as #1.
- ie Parents often make the mistake of expecting a child ( to do certain things before its body and brain have developed enough for it to be able to do them .
- ) Do you think it's necessary to say 'for it to be able to do them'?
- Clive
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7 Answers
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Hi,
I see it as #1.
ie Parents often make the mistake of expecting a child ( to do certain things before its body and brain have developed enough for it to be able to do them. )
Do you think it's necessary to say 'for it to be able to do them'?
Clive
I see it as #1.
ie Parents often make the mistake of expecting a child ( to do certain things before its body and brain have developed enough for it to be able to do them. )
Do you think it's necessary to say 'for it to be able to do them'?
Clive
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Hmm...isn't it that if the expectation is before the development, it's wrong (i.e. #2)?
CliveDo you think it's necessary to say 'for it to be able to do them'?Not really, in my opinion.
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Hi Taka,
...isn't it that if the expectation is before the development, it's wrong (i.e. #2)?
'What is wrong?' is not the question you originally asked. You asked 'Which part does the part in bold modify?'
'before its body and brain have developed enough' is an adverbial clause modifying 'to do'.
You can see this more clea
...isn't it that if the expectation is before the development, it's wrong (i.e. #2)?
'What is wrong?' is not the question you originally asked. You asked 'Which part does the part in bold modify?'
'before its body and brain have developed enough' is an adverbial clause modifying 'to do'.
You can see this more clea
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I should have said 'the parents are wrong' instead; parents shouldn't have such an expectation before the full development of the children's bodies and brains.
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So Clive, do you still think it's #1, or it could also be #2; in other words, it's ambiguous?
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Hi,
I still see it as #1. I suppose it's a matter of interpreting the intended meaning.
Here's a simplified version of how I see it.
If you expect an event, it's an event that should happen in the future.
Today the parents expect that tomorrow their child will start walking.
Tomorrow comes. On that day, the child's body is not ready fo
I still see it as #1. I suppose it's a matter of interpreting the intended meaning.
Here's a simplified version of how I see it.
If you expect an event, it's an event that should happen in the future.
Today the parents expect that tomorrow their child will start walking.
Tomorrow comes. On that day, the child's body is not ready fo
00
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