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Pructus Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
Off went John
Hello...
How do these two structures sound to native ears?
Both acceptable?
a. Off went John to the appointed place of duty.
b. Off John went to the appointed place of duty.
And I seem to find some peculiar occurrences, which is, if “and” or “so” is attached right before, this may affect the structure. Then, I wonder how the two below sound to natives.
c. And off went John to the appointed place of duty.
d. And John went to the appointed place of duty.
How do these two structures sound to native ears?
Both acceptable?
a. Off went John to the appointed place of duty.
b. Off John went to the appointed place of duty.
And I seem to find some peculiar occurrences, which is, if “and” or “so” is attached right before, this may affect the structure. Then, I wonder how the two below sound to natives.
c. And off went John to the appointed place of duty.
d. And John went to the appointed place of duty.
Top answer
pructus How do these two structures sound to native ears? Literary rather than conversational. pructus Both acceptable?
- pructus How do these two structures sound to native ears?
- Literary rather than conversational.
- pructus Both acceptable?
- Yes.
- pructus I wonder how the two below sound to natives.
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9 Answers
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pructusHow do these two structures sound to native ears?Literary rather than conversational.
pructusBoth acceptable?Yes.
pructusI wonder how the two below sound to natives.They sound correct. As stated above, c (with the locative inversion) seems literary. The second one omits "off",
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I'd just like to add a comment that the appointed place of duty. is not a common or conversational phrase.
Clive
Clive
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I made a mistake.
The "d" was intended to be:
d. And off John went to the appointed place of duty.
The "d" was intended to be:
d. And off John went to the appointed place of duty.
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Thanks a lot, Clive!!
I found the expression from Google.
Then, maybe, "designated place of duty" is better?
Or simply, "designated place"?
I found the expression from Google.
Then, maybe, "designated place of duty" is better?
Or simply, "designated place"?
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Thanks Clive....
What I have in mind is like some place previously decided to be a meeting point, after some kind of battle or mission.
What I have in mind is like some place previously decided to be a meeting point, after some kind of battle or mission.
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