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Taka Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Modification

Friendships and acquaintances used to be structured by physical proximity; we meet people because they are our neighbors, classmates, co-workers or colleagues in some local organization.


About "in some local organization", what does it modify? Everything listed after "our"?
  

Top answer

Taka About "in some local organization", what does it modify? Everything listed after "our"? No, "colleagues".

  • Taka About "in some local organization", what does it modify?
  • Everything listed after "our"?
  • No, "colleagues".
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9 Answers
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Taka About "in some local organization", what does it modify? Everything listed after "our"?
No, "colleagues".
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Then what does "our" refer to? Is only "colleagues" outside the scope of "our"? Or are you saying that every item including "colleagues" is within the scope of "our", but "in some local organization" modifies "colleagues" only? Grammatically, is such a modification really possible?
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For your information, the sentence in question is followed by this:

Much of our information intake also reflects locality, and we share these media experiences and others with those who live around us. However, the global reach and interactivity of the Internet is challenging this. Individuals can spend more time communicating and sharing experiences with others
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Taka every item including "colleagues" is within the scope of "our", but "in some local organization" modifies "colleagues" only? Grammatically, is such a modification really possible?
Yes and yes, in my estimation.
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If it were "in some local community" instead of "in some local organization", then how would you interpret it?
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TakaIf it were "in some local community" instead of "in some local organization", then how would you interpret it?
Differently: we do not have 'community colleagues'.
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So it's impossible to take it as "colleagues who are in some local community."

Then, would you skip over "colleagues" and relate "in some community" to the other three items?

Is such a modification grammatically allowed?
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TakaSo it's impossible to take it as "colleagues who are in some local community."
No, but it's impossible to take it as a modifier only of 'colleagues'; presumably, it would apply to all.
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That's what I thought.

Thanks, MM!

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