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Tamguatlay Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

One example of an unfilial person is/was You-meng...

One example of an unfilial person is/was You-meng, who struck his father, and as a consequence was struck down by lightning.

1. Which word in bold should I use? I think it should be "is" although You-meng is no longer in this world. Am I correct?
2. Is "down' redundant?

Thanks.
  

Top answer

1. It depends really on whether the example is being chosen for a present purpose, or was an example chosen at the time. Probably you mean the former, in which case "is" seems appropriate.

— GPY

  • 1.
  • It depends really on whether the example is being chosen for a present purpose, or was an example chosen at the time.
  • Probably you mean the former, in which case "is" seems appropriate.
  • 2.
  • "struck by lightning" is the usual phrase, but "struck down by lightning" has a weight and finality that to me seems appropriate in this context.
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1 Answers
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1. It depends really on whether the example is being chosen for a present purpose, or was an example chosen at the time. Probably you mean the former, in which case "is" seems appropriate.

2. "struck by lightning" is the usual phrase, but "struck down by lightning" has a weight and finality that to me seems appropriate in this context.
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