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Seagull Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
The usage of a pronoun/ Modification
Regarding the following sentence:
The purpose of an expert system is to provide advice at a similar level to that provided by a human expert.
Q1 What does "that" in the sentence mean? Does it stand for "advice," not to repeat the same noun?
Q2 How does the phrase "at a similar level to that provided by a human expert" work? Is it an adverbial phrase? Or is it an adjective phrase to modify "advice"?
The purpose of an expert system is to provide advice at a similar level to that provided by a human expert.
Q1 What does "that" in the sentence mean? Does it stand for "advice," not to repeat the same noun?
Q2 How does the phrase "at a similar level to that provided by a human expert" work? Is it an adverbial phrase? Or is it an adjective phrase to modify "advice"?
Top answer
^- - - - - < ................................. Q1. As shown above.
- ^- - - - - < .................................
- Q1.
- As shown above.
- " is a complement of "similar".
- Q2.
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8 Answers
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seagullis to provide advice at a similar level to that provided by a human expertQ1. As shown above. "that" points back to "level", thus:
.....................................................................^- - - - - < .................................
"at a similar level to the level (of advice) provided by a human expert"
The
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Thank you very much indeed, CalifJim.
So, does the following sentence mean the same as the original, though it may sound a little awkward?
The purpose of an expert system is to provide advice at a similar level to the level provided by a human expert.
So, does the following sentence mean the same as the original, though it may sound a little awkward?
The purpose of an expert system is to provide advice at a similar level to the level provided by a human expert.
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seagulldoes the following sentence mean the same as the originalYes. Did you think it meant something different?
CJ
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I guessed that the pronoun "that" represents "advice" because "advice" can be provided by someone, but "level" can never be. I find this kind of structure very difficult. I really appreciate your help.
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seagullI guessed that the pronoun "that" represents "advice" because "advice" can be provided by someone, but "level" can never be. I find this kind of structure very difficult. I really appreciate your help.I see your point. That wasn't the first thing that came to mind for me, but it's another possibility.
CJ
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CalifJim I see your point. That wasn't the first thing that came to mind for me, but it's another possibility.CJ
Oh, is that so? But, I now think that your interpretation is much more natural than what I first thought of. Can we say that my original idea is just a "possibility," and it's normal to see this usage of "that" as a substitute for "level"?
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seagullit's normal to see this usage of "that" as a substitute for "level"?Yes. Often when there is ambiguity and you have a choice between two antecedents of a pronoun, the intended reference is to the noun closest (level) to the pronoun (that). But that doesn't mean that it's always that way.
CJ
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I understand.
Thank you very much for your clear explanation, CalifJim. I've learned a lot.
Thank you very much for your clear explanation, CalifJim. I've learned a lot.
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