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Seagull Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
The usage of "both of them"
Regarding the two sentences below:
(A) Politicians and business people are alike in that both occupations have to address the potential needs of the people.
(B) Politicians and business people are alike in that both of them have to address the potential needs of the people.
Q1 What do you think of Sentences (A) and (B)? Do they make sense? Are they grammatically correct?
Q2 Does (B) work as an alternative to (A)? I think (B) is a little awkward, but I'm not so sure. What is your take on it?
(A) Politicians and business people are alike in that both occupations have to address the potential needs of the people.
(B) Politicians and business people are alike in that both of them have to address the potential needs of the people.
Q1 What do you think of Sentences (A) and (B)? Do they make sense? Are they grammatically correct?
Q2 Does (B) work as an alternative to (A)? I think (B) is a little awkward, but I'm not so sure. What is your take on it?
Top answer
Sentence A says that the occupations, not the professionals (the people), have to address the potential needs of the people. Sentence B says that the two people have to address the potential needs of the people. At first glance, the sentences seem to say the exact same message, but upon scrutiny, we see that they don't.
- Sentence A says that the occupations, not the professionals (the people), have to address the potential needs of the people.
- Sentence B says that the two people have to address the potential needs of the people.
- At first glance, the sentences seem to say the exact same message, but upon scrutiny, we see that they don't.
- Regarding your question, both sentences are grammatically correct.
- Because the meanings are a little different, B is not an alternative to A.
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2 Answers
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Sentence A says that the occupations, not the professionals (the people), have to address the potential needs of the people.
Sentence B says that the two people have to address the potential needs of the people.
At first glance, the sentences seem to say the exact same message, but upon scrutiny, we see that they don't.
Regarding your question, both sentences are gramma
Sentence B says that the two people have to address the potential needs of the people.
At first glance, the sentences seem to say the exact same message, but upon scrutiny, we see that they don't.
Regarding your question, both sentences are gramma
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Thank you very much, Englishmaven, for your clear and informative answer.
Please allow me to ask a further question.
Q1 Is this sentence okay? -- Politicians and business people are alike in that both professions have to address the potential needs of the people.
Q2 Does Sentence B sound funny, to be honest? I mean, does "both of them" in the subordinate clause of (B) so
Please allow me to ask a further question.
Q1 Is this sentence okay? -- Politicians and business people are alike in that both professions have to address the potential needs of the people.
Q2 Does Sentence B sound funny, to be honest? I mean, does "both of them" in the subordinate clause of (B) so
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