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English 1b3 Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
Nuance with a relative clause
a) We held a challenge to see which company would ship their product to us the fastest.
b) We held a challenge, which was to see which company would ship their product to us the fastest.
Which is preferred? The only difference is the inclusion of 'which was' in b.
I believe b is better because in a) 'to see which company...' reads as though that is the reason they held the challenge, rather than what the challenge is.
b) We held a challenge, which was to see which company would ship their product to us the fastest.
Which is preferred? The only difference is the inclusion of 'which was' in b.
I believe b is better because in a) 'to see which company...' reads as though that is the reason they held the challenge, rather than what the challenge is.
Top answer
(b) feels slightly clumsy to me. I actually prefer (a). The distinction that you make does not trouble me.
- (b) feels slightly clumsy to me.
- I actually prefer (a).
- The distinction that you make does not trouble me.
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7 Answers
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(b) feels slightly clumsy to me. I actually prefer (a). The distinction that you make does not trouble me.
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GPY(b) feels slightly clumsy to me. I actually prefer (a). The distinction that you make does not trouble me.It doesn't trouble me either. But isn't it better to be absolutely clear when you write?
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I have some reservations about 'We held a challenge'.
It suggests to me that you told the companies involved about the contest. Is that what you mean?
Clive
It suggests to me that you told the companies involved about the contest. Is that what you mean?
Clive
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English 1b3It doesn't trouble me either. But isn't it better to be absolutely clear when you write?I don't see anything unclear about (a). "to" means "in order to": "We held a challenge in order to see which company would ship their product to us the fastest." The reason you held the challenge was to find the answer to that question.
(There are poten
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Actually, no, Clive. So I guess there is a more appropriate word to use here.
But going back to the original question, here I have simplified my question. Can you now see the difference in meaning? Which do you prefer?
a) 'We held a challenge which was to see which company would ship their product to us the fastest' = relative clause describing the challenge
b) 'W
But going back to the original question, here I have simplified my question. Can you now see the difference in meaning? Which do you prefer?
a) 'We held a challenge which was to see which company would ship their product to us the fastest' = relative clause describing the challenge
b) 'W
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A makes the added information seem peripheral.
B gives it more importance, so I prefer that. You don't mainly want to tell us just that you held a challenge.
[ maybe 'ran a test' ].
Clive
B gives it more importance, so I prefer that. You don't mainly want to tell us just that you held a challenge.
[ maybe 'ran a test' ].
Clive
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English 1b3But going back to the original question, here I have simplified my question. Can you now see the difference in meaning? Which do you prefer?a) 'We held a challenge which was to see which company would ship their product to us the fastest' = relative clause describing the challengeb) 'We held a challenge to see which company would ship their product to us the fa
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