0
Victor_amelkin Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Past simple, past perfect continuous
Hello,
Could you please take a look at the following sentences? Are they
gramatically correct? Do they sound any awkward thus calling for
a rewrite?
* Indeed, it would be unforgivable to treat those who brought one
to life and who had been raising and educating one for years with
neglect.
* Indeed, it would be unforgivable to treat with neglect those who
brought to life, raised, and educated one.
I'm not sure that the tenses are correctly used in the first sentence.
Also, I doubt that "one" is used appropriately in the second sentence.
Additionally, what in your opinion "for years" in the first sentence
relates to? Is it "raising and educating one for years" (as it was planned
to be) or "treating ... for years with neglect" (with which it may be
confused)? Do you see any ambiguity in the first sentence or my
worries are groundless? =)
Thanks in advance.
--
Victor
Could you please take a look at the following sentences? Are they
gramatically correct? Do they sound any awkward thus calling for
a rewrite?
* Indeed, it would be unforgivable to treat those who brought one
to life and who had been raising and educating one for years with
neglect.
* Indeed, it would be unforgivable to treat with neglect those who
brought to life, raised, and educated one.
I'm not sure that the tenses are correctly used in the first sentence.
Also, I doubt that "one" is used appropriately in the second sentence.
Additionally, what in your opinion "for years" in the first sentence
relates to? Is it "raising and educating one for years" (as it was planned
to be) or "treating ... for years with neglect" (with which it may be
confused)? Do you see any ambiguity in the first sentence or my
worries are groundless? =)
Thanks in advance.
--
Victor
Top answer
They are both quite stilted, Victor, especially the first. The 2nd is better, as amended: * Indeed, it would be unforgivable to treat with neglect those who gave you life, raised and educated you. -- Incorrect (I presume from the meaning that I think is intended), since it indicates that the raising, educating and neglect are all happening simultaneously .
- They are both quite stilted, Victor, especially the first.
- The 2nd is better, as amended: * Indeed, it would be unforgivable to treat with neglect those who gave you life, raised and educated you.
- -- Incorrect (I presume from the meaning that I think is intended), since it indicates that the raising, educating and neglect are all happening simultaneously .
- -- Too formal, almost always, in almost any context.
- Additionally, what in your opinion "for years" in the first sentence relates to?
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
1 Answers
0
They are both quite stilted, Victor, especially the first. The 2nd is better, as amended:
* Indeed, it would be unforgivable to treat with neglect those who gave you life, raised and educated you.
I'm not sure that the tenses are correctly used in the first sentence.-- Incorrect (I presume from the meaning that I think is intended), since it indica
* Indeed, it would be unforgivable to treat with neglect those who gave you life, raised and educated you.
I'm not sure that the tenses are correctly used in the first sentence.-- Incorrect (I presume from the meaning that I think is intended), since it indica
0
Related Questions