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Park sang joon Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
The analyses of a text #1
The protagonist Philip got a temporary job for Doctor South at a rural hospital as soon as he graduated a medical school.
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Philip was startled at Doctor South's suspicion of asepsis; he had accepted it in deference to universal opinion; but he used the precautions which Philip had known insisted upon so scrupulously at the hospital with the disdainful tolerance of a man playing at soldiers with children.
[Of Human Bondage by Somerset Maugham]
1. I'd like to know why it is "insisted upon," not "were insisted upon."
2. And I'd like to know why it is "Philip," not "he."
Thank you in advance for your help.
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Philip was startled at Doctor South's suspicion of asepsis; he had accepted it in deference to universal opinion; but he used the precautions which Philip had known insisted upon so scrupulously at the hospital with the disdainful tolerance of a man playing at soldiers with children.
[Of Human Bondage by Somerset Maugham]
1. I'd like to know why it is "insisted upon," not "were insisted upon."
2. And I'd like to know why it is "Philip," not "he."
Thank you in advance for your help.
Top answer
Who do you understand the red "he" to refer to? but he used the precautions which Philip had known insisted upon so scrupulously at the hospital with the disdainful tolerance of a man playing at soldiers with children.
- Who do you understand the red "he" to refer to?
- but he used the precautions which Philip had known insisted upon so scrupulously at the hospital with the disdainful tolerance of a man playing at soldiers with children.
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7 Answers
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Who do you understand the red "he" to refer to?
but he used the precautions which Philip had known insisted upon so scrupulously at the hospital with the disdainful tolerance of a man playing at soldiers with children.
but he used the precautions which Philip had known insisted upon so scrupulously at the hospital with the disdainful tolerance of a man playing at soldiers with children.
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Thank you, GPY, for your So very kind answer as usual. 
Who do you understand the red "he" to refer to?
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I'm so sorry for my misunderstanding. 
Now I think the red "he" refers to "Doctor South" and the subject of "had known" is
Now I think the red "he" refers to "Doctor South" and the subject of "had known" is
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park sang joonNow I think the red "he" refers to "Doctor South"If so, this would answer your question #2. However, don't you think that the green "he" ought to refer to Philip? If the green refers to Philip and the red to Doctor South (which the meaning seems to suggest?) then the way it is written is very confusing.
Philip was startled at Doctor
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Thank you, GPY, for your continuing support. 
I'm so sorry for my stupidity.
I'm so sorry for my stupidity.
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"insisted upon" is passive/adjectival, modifying "precautions". The active meaning is "the hospital workers insisted upon the precautions (and Philip knew this)".
Perhaps it is easier for you to understand like this:
"the precautions which Philip had known to be insisted upon so scrupulously at the hospital"
This means the same as the original.
Perhaps it is easier for you to understand like this:
"the precautions which Philip had known to be insisted upon so scrupulously at the hospital"
This means the same as the original.
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Thank you, GPY, for your continuing to answer and patience.
I was such a fool; you enlightened me once again.
I was such a fool; you enlightened me once again.
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