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Tashiro Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Parataxis of infinitives
Hi, teachers. Please help me.
"Learning a new language well enough to be able to understand it when heard, to speak it, read it, and write it, is such an arduous discipline that we certainly need some strong urge to drive us on."
My textbook says "to speak~" is connected to "to be able~" by the red comma instead of and. However, in my opinion, it is possible that "to speak~" is connected to "to understand~". What do you think?
"Learning a new language well enough to be able to understand it when heard, to speak it, read it, and write it, is such an arduous discipline that we certainly need some strong urge to drive us on."
My textbook says "to speak~" is connected to "to be able~" by the red comma instead of and. However, in my opinion, it is possible that "to speak~" is connected to "to understand~". What do you think?
Top answer
I don't understand what you mean by "connected to 'to be able~'" versus "connected to 'to understand~'". The possible interpretations seem to be: "Learning a new language well enough to be able to understand it when heard, well enough to be able to speak it ... " "Learning a new language well enough to be able to understand it when heard, well enough to speak it ...
- I don't understand what you mean by "connected to 'to be able~'" versus "connected to 'to understand~'".
- The possible interpretations seem to be: "Learning a new language well enough to be able to understand it when heard, well enough to be able to speak it ...
- " "Learning a new language well enough to be able to understand it when heard, well enough to speak it ...
- " Is this anything to do with what you are asking?
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4 Answers
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I don't understand what you mean by "connected to 'to be able~'" versus "connected to 'to understand~'". The possible interpretations seem to be:
"Learning a new language well enough to be able to understand it when heard, well enough to be able to speak it... etc."
"Learning a new language well enough to be able to understand it when heard, well enough to speak it
"Learning a new language well enough to be able to understand it when heard, well enough to be able to speak it... etc."
"Learning a new language well enough to be able to understand it when heard, well enough to speak it
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Thank you for the reply. The both sentences have the same meaning?
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tashiroThank you for the reply. The both sentences have the same meaning?For all practical purposes, yes.
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