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Theorange78 Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
The place of adjective
Hi all, Could you please explain the differences between:
- I cannot find it in the address book given before.
- I cannot find it in the given address book before.
Many thanks
- I cannot find it in the address book given before.
- I cannot find it in the given address book before.
Many thanks
Top answer
, given before, so you shouldn't separate given from before . Use the first sentence. CJ
- , given before, so you shouldn't separate given from before .
- Use the first sentence.
- CJ
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5 Answers
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I assume you mean that the address book was previously given, i.e., given before, so you shouldn't separate given from before. Use the first sentence.
CJ
CJ
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Hi TO78,
There's something not right about both sentences. The verb cannot implies a present action. You are saying to someone, I cannot find it in this address book. Not the one you had before.
The before indicates a past action, which means you would need to say I couldn't find it in the address book [that you gave me] before.
There's something not right about both sentences. The verb cannot implies a present action. You are saying to someone, I cannot find it in this address book. Not the one you had before.
The before indicates a past action, which means you would need to say I couldn't find it in the address book [that you gave me] before.
00
Dear friend, first and foremost, welcome to the forums!
The second sentence is downright incorrect - before has scope over the entire clause, thus making it past, and cannot find has a present reference.
The first sentence is acceptable in that before refers only to given, and the sentence may still refer to the moment of speaking - there is no need
The second sentence is downright incorrect - before has scope over the entire clause, thus making it past, and cannot find has a present reference.
The first sentence is acceptable in that before refers only to given, and the sentence may still refer to the moment of speaking - there is no need
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Thanks so much for these detailed explanations.
I still have trouble with:
"the given book" and "the book given".
regards,
TheOrange78
I still have trouble with:
"the given book" and "the book given".
regards,
TheOrange78
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Hi,
In trying to interpret the second of these awkwardly worded sentences,
ie I cannot find it in the given address book before.
you might want to consider that 'given' in front of a noun often has a rather special meaning of 'specified'.
eg We will expect you at the given time. Please do not be late.
eg My homework each week is to read a given
In trying to interpret the second of these awkwardly worded sentences,
ie I cannot find it in the given address book before.
you might want to consider that 'given' in front of a noun often has a rather special meaning of 'specified'.
eg We will expect you at the given time. Please do not be late.
eg My homework each week is to read a given
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