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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Question on a given sentence with respect to pronouns
"For most of recorded history, the law treated children and adults alike, and so they were
subjected to the same procedures and punishments."
Does "they" take the place of 1) children only, 2) adults only, or 3) children AND adults.
Maybe the three answer choices are all correct?
I would like to argue that it has to be either 1 or 2. I say this based on the premise that the word "same" has the function of relating TWO concepts. Thus, answer choice 3 would have to be incorrect because it is a "combined" concept, and hence, the sentence would be incomplete because there is no relation to another concept.
Doesn't it sound correct to say "...so CHILDREN were subjected to the same procedures and punishments" and to say "...so ADULTS were subjected to the same procedures and punishments"?
subjected to the same procedures and punishments."
Does "they" take the place of 1) children only, 2) adults only, or 3) children AND adults.
Maybe the three answer choices are all correct?
I would like to argue that it has to be either 1 or 2. I say this based on the premise that the word "same" has the function of relating TWO concepts. Thus, answer choice 3 would have to be incorrect because it is a "combined" concept, and hence, the sentence would be incomplete because there is no relation to another concept.
Doesn't it sound correct to say "...so CHILDREN were subjected to the same procedures and punishments" and to say "...so ADULTS were subjected to the same procedures and punishments"?
Top answer
In my opinion, "they" refers to both children and adults. "So adults were subjected to the same p. " simply means that all adults were treated equally, etc.
- In my opinion, "they" refers to both children and adults.
- "So adults were subjected to the same p.
- " simply means that all adults were treated equally, etc.
- Your argument is logical enough, but the usage you suggest is not idiomatic.
- It seems to me that your argument falls apart if you add a third group: the law treated Cubans and Puerto Ricans and Mexicans alike, and so they were [all] subjected to the same procedures.
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1 Answers
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In my opinion, "they" refers to both children and adults.
"So adults were subjected to the same p. & p." simply means that all adults were treated equally, etc.
Your argument is logical enough, but the usage you suggest is not idiomatic.
It seems to me that your argument falls apart if you add a third group: the law treated Cubans and Puerto Ricans and Mexicans alike, a
"So adults were subjected to the same p. & p." simply means that all adults were treated equally, etc.
Your argument is logical enough, but the usage you suggest is not idiomatic.
It seems to me that your argument falls apart if you add a third group: the law treated Cubans and Puerto Ricans and Mexicans alike, a
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