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English 1b3 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Sentence Grammar

There are 10 people in the boat and to prevent it (from) sinking, you quickly work out that by having 9 people working for 10 minutes while 1 person rests, you can bail the water out with their hands, quick enough to keep the water at bay and preventing it from sinking.

1. Why is 'from' optional here? Is it because sinking becomes a complement when 'from' is removed? Or because people just omit 'from' when speaking?

2. Is quick an informal adverb, because it should be 'quickly,' should it not?

3. I assume 'to prevent' would be preferred as it keeps thing parallel. But is it grammatical as is?

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Top answer

1-- It is optional for no particular reason other than that it is idiomatically so, just as with 'I'll see you (on) Tuesday' or 'We'll help you (to) pack'. 2-- 'Quick' is gaining respectability and is joining the ranks of 'slow' and some other adverbs who have adjective forms. 3-- I don't think it is grammatical as it is.

— Mister Micawber

  • 1-- It is optional for no particular reason other than that it is idiomatically so, just as with 'I'll see you (on) Tuesday' or 'We'll help you (to) pack'.
  • 2-- 'Quick' is gaining respectability and is joining the ranks of 'slow' and some other adverbs who have adjective forms.
  • 3-- I don't think it is grammatical as it is.
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1 Answers
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1-- It is optional for no particular reason other than that it is idiomatically so, just as with 'I'll see you (on) Tuesday' or 'We'll help you (to) pack'.

2-- 'Quick' is gaining respectability and is joining the ranks of 'slow' and some other adverbs who have adjective forms.

3-- I don't think it is grammatical as it is.
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