0
Stenka25 Posted 10 years ago
Vocabulary
The pronoun problem
The pronoun problem
The quote below was stated in Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel.
“No ruler in the history of the world has ever been able to afford a war. They're not affordable things. No prince ever says, 'This is my budget, so this is the kind of war I can have.” ? Hilary Mantel, Wolf Hall
I'd like to ask a question regarding the underlined 'They'.
It seems to refer to the preceding 'a war'.
(Am I right?)
Then the inconsistent agreement emerges between the plural pronoun and the single antecedent.
I want to ask
? Is it acceptable?
? Is there a chance of the author's error?
? If it's acceptable is there any effect the writer tried to make with this inconsistency?
Regards.
The quote below was stated in Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel.
“No ruler in the history of the world has ever been able to afford a war. They're not affordable things. No prince ever says, 'This is my budget, so this is the kind of war I can have.” ? Hilary Mantel, Wolf Hall
I'd like to ask a question regarding the underlined 'They'.
It seems to refer to the preceding 'a war'.
(Am I right?)
Then the inconsistent agreement emerges between the plural pronoun and the single antecedent.
I want to ask
? Is it acceptable?
? Is there a chance of the author's error?
? If it's acceptable is there any effect the writer tried to make with this inconsistency?
Regards.
Top answer
) Not exactly. The writer has taken a mental leap from one war to wars in general, and she expects us to follow along. Stenka25 Is it acceptable?
- ) Not exactly.
- The writer has taken a mental leap from one war to wars in general, and she expects us to follow along.
- Stenka25 Is it acceptable?
- Yes.
- Stenka25 Is there a chance of the author's error?
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
2 Answers
0
Stenka25I'd like to ask a question regarding the underlined 'They'.It seems to refer to the preceding 'a war'.(Am I right?)Not exactly. The writer has taken a mental leap from one war to wars in general, and she expects us to follow along.
Stenka25Is it acceptable?Yes.
Stenka25Is there a chance of
00
Related Questions