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Taka Posted 22 years ago
Grammar
Need comments
(1) Without a computer, a lot of people nowadays feel uneasy, irritated, which is a symptom of addiction.
(2) With their computer disconnected, a lot of people nowadays feel uneasy, irritated, which is a symptom of addiction.
(3 ) Without using a computer, a lot of people nowadays feel uneasy, irritated, which is a symptom of addiction.
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(3) is the sentence written by a friend of mine, and he is asking me if it works. IMO, (3) is weird but I cannot explain well why; it just doesn't feel right.
Well, maybe I'm wrong and there is nothing wrong in the sentence (3) . If so, then that's fine.
Could anybody tell me if it works or not, and if not, then why?
(2) With their computer disconnected, a lot of people nowadays feel uneasy, irritated, which is a symptom of addiction.
(3 ) Without using a computer, a lot of people nowadays feel uneasy, irritated, which is a symptom of addiction.
------
(3) is the sentence written by a friend of mine, and he is asking me if it works. IMO, (3) is weird but I cannot explain well why; it just doesn't feel right.
Well, maybe I'm wrong and there is nothing wrong in the sentence (3) . If so, then that's fine.
Could anybody tell me if it works or not, and if not, then why?
Top answer
A few comments... A. I recommend using "many" instead of "a lot", at least when writing articles or papers.
- A few comments...
- A.
- I recommend using "many" instead of "a lot", at least when writing articles or papers.
- The former is more formal and professional.
- B.
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15 Answers
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A few comments...
A. I recommend using "many" instead of "a lot", at least when writing articles or papers. The former is more formal and professional.
B. A grammatical problem in all three sentences is "...uneasy, irritated, which is a symptom...". It should be "..uneasy and irritated, which are symptoms..."
C. I would write the sentence as "Without regular access t
A. I recommend using "many" instead of "a lot", at least when writing articles or papers. The former is more formal and professional.
B. A grammatical problem in all three sentences is "...uneasy, irritated, which is a symptom...". It should be "..uneasy and irritated, which are symptoms..."
C. I would write the sentence as "Without regular access t
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Sorry about "a symptom". It's a typo.
The point of my question is whether "using" in "without using a computer, people feel uneasy..." sounds natural or not, and if not, why.
The point of my question is whether "using" in "without using a computer, people feel uneasy..." sounds natural or not, and if not, why.
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"Without using a computer" in that sentence does not sound at all natural. It implies something like the following:
People can accomplish the task of feeling uneasy and irritated -- and, surprise, surprise! -- they can even do so without using a computer! Isn't that amazing? Even though they do not use a computer, they manage to feel uneasy and irritated.
Weird, isn't it?
People can accomplish the task of feeling uneasy and irritated -- and, surprise, surprise! -- they can even do so without using a computer! Isn't that amazing? Even though they do not use a computer, they manage to feel uneasy and irritated.
Weird, isn't it?
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Werid indeed.
Then, what about this one?
Without using a computer, a lot of people nowadays WOULD feel uneasy, irritated, which are symptoms of addiction.
Does it sound weird as well?
Then, what about this one?
Without using a computer, a lot of people nowadays WOULD feel uneasy, irritated, which are symptoms of addiction.
Does it sound weird as well?
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I think it does, yes. It's the word "using" which seems wrong -- to me, anyway. 
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I was told this works:
Without the use of a computer, many people feel uneasy...
Why does "without the use" work while "without using" doesn't? "The Use" is a noun of the verb "use", right?
Without the use of a computer, many people feel uneasy...
Why does "without the use" work while "without using" doesn't? "The Use" is a noun of the verb "use", right?
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"the use" is a noun form of "to use" (the verb), yes.
I'm not convinced that "without the use" is very much better than "without using"! Maybe a little.
I find that "without ...-ing" (especially when used at the beginning of the sentence) suggests some sort of out-of-the-ordinary accomplishment or unexpected event in the past.
Without using his hands, he wrote a let
I'm not convinced that "without the use" is very much better than "without using"! Maybe a little.
I find that "without ...-ing" (especially when used at the beginning of the sentence) suggests some sort of out-of-the-ordinary accomplishment or unexpected event in the past.
Without using his hands, he wrote a let
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"I find that "without ...-ing" (especially when used at the beginning of the sentence) suggests some sort of out-of-the-ordinary accomplishment or unexpected event in the past. "
Very interesting!
Jim, one more question.
Do you think "without" can be restated as "if not"?
(e.g. Witout using=If they don't use)
Very interesting!
Jim, one more question.
Do you think "without" can be restated as "if not"?
(e.g. Witout using=If they don't use)
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I just wanted to tell you that you spelt "without" wrong. You spelt it as "Witout".
I just wanted to tell you that
I just wanted to tell you that
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There is probably more than one paraphrase of "without --ing". The best paraphrase will depend on the specific concepts (words) in the sentence.
In the case of "without using X, we Y-ed" the connotation is that we would normally use X to help us to do Y.
"Without using a computer, a lot of people feel uneasy ...." does not seem to me to mean the same thing as "If they don't u
In the case of "without using X, we Y-ed" the connotation is that we would normally use X to help us to do Y.
"Without using a computer, a lot of people feel uneasy ...." does not seem to me to mean the same thing as "If they don't u
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