The implicit words

Question

The U.S. chartered steamer Ta-Kiang accompanied the operation in a token show of support. The two-day battle that followed on September 5 and 6 did what the previous operations could not; it destroyed the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C5%8Dsh%C5%AB_Domain's ability to wage war on the western powers. Unable to match the firepower of the international fleet, and amid mounting casualties, Choshu forces finally surrendered two days later on September 8, 1864.Allied casualties included 72 killed or wounded and two severely damaged British ships.I'd like to know if the possessive "forces'" is missing after "Allied" and "the" is implied before "72 killed or wounded."

Deadrat · Accepted Answer

In a war of many nations (here, "the western powers") against one (here, Japan), it would be natural to call the many an alliance and name that alliance "the Allies." The adjectival form of "allies" is "allied," and that word is modifying "casualties."

The casualties are not particularized: they're just seventy-two unfortunates, and generally no article is required before cardinal numbers. If the sentence had identified the seventy-two victims in some particular way, the definite article would be used: "Allied casualties included the 72 killed or wounded mentioned in dispatches."

Park sang joon · Answer

Thank you, deadrat, for your another kind answer.

"Allied casualties" dosen't mean "total casualties."
And I can't assure myself "Allied casualties" make sense.
I meant "72 killed or wounded" should have been a noun phrase and the define article "the" would change it into a noun phrase.

Deadrat · Answer

park sang joon"Allied casualties" dosen't mean "total casualties."

Correct. It means casualties sustained by those allied in the fight. As usual, the winners didn't bother to total the loser's casualties.

park sang joonAnd I can't assure myself "Allied casualties" make sense.

Let me assure you. "Allied" means "of the allies [united in the conflict with Japan]."

park sang joonI meant "72 killed or wounded" should have been a noun phrase and the define article "the" would change it into a noun phrase.

It already is a noun phrase. The noun "72" (meaning "72 people") is the object of "included." The compound adjectival phrase "killed or wounded" modifies the number. We don't put an article before a cardinal number except as I noted. This could be rephrased as "The killed and wounded numbered 72." In this locution, the adjectival participles"killed" and "wounded" stand in for nouns meaning "killed people and wounded people." Such stand-ins take the definite article as in "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly."

CalifJim · Answer

park sang joonI'd like to know if the possessive "forces'" is missing after "Allied"

It doesn't have to be possessive in form (forces'). The non-possessive form will be taken as possessive in meaning.

park sang joon"the" is implied before "72 killed or wounded."

No! That would be a group of 72 specific people, not just the count.
___________________

Here's an expansion of the sentence:

Allied (forces) casualties (= the casualties [of / sustained by] the allied forces) included 72 (people who were) killed or wounded.

Don't worry. Much as it may seem so, 'allied casualties' does not mean that the casualties got together to form an alliance.

CJ

CalifJim · Answer

park sang joonI meant "72 killed or wounded" should have been a noun phrase and the define article "the" would change it into a noun phrase.

It doesn't need 'the' to make it a noun phrase. Lots of noun phrases lack 'the'.

'people' or 'individuals' is implied. 72 people/individuals who were killed or wounded.

CJ

Deadrat · Answer

CalifJimMuch as it may seem so, 'allied casualties' does not mean that the casualties got together to form an alliance.

Where does this leave the Allied Casualty Insurance Company?

CalifJimDon't worry.

Easy for you to say. I'm going to be up all night with this.

CalifJim · Answer

deadratWhere does this leave the Allied Casualty Insurance Company?

In the lurch? I don't know. You'll have to ask them.

deadratEasy for you to say. I'm going to be up all night with this.

Well, by my watch, you're halfway there already.

CJ

The implicit words

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions