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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Modifies one or all?
Hi. How could we make sure whether or not words like "very" modify one or all for the likes of the sentential case below?
He is a very big, tall and tanned person.
I think for this the the word "different" modifies all three words, "backgrounds", "race" and "social status."
He sees people from different backgrounds, race and social status.
He is a very big, tall and tanned person.
I think for this the the word "different" modifies all three words, "backgrounds", "race" and "social status."
He sees people from different backgrounds, race and social status.
Top answer
We presume that the modifier refers to all if it is reasonable. If you wish otherwise, you must restructure the sentence: He is a tall, tanned and very big person.
- We presume that the modifier refers to all if it is reasonable.
- If you wish otherwise, you must restructure the sentence: He is a tall, tanned and very big person.
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1 Answers
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We presume that the modifier refers to all if it is reasonable. If you wish otherwise, you must restructure the sentence:
He is a tall, tanned and very big person.
He is a tall, tanned and very big person.
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