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Palinkasocsi Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Their definition vs. definitions
Dear Forum Users,
Suppose I ask my students to define a concept but they fail on the task. Which is the correct form:
They were not able to finish their definition/definitions?
Thank you.
Pal
Suppose I ask my students to define a concept but they fail on the task. Which is the correct form:
They were not able to finish their definition/definitions?
Thank you.
Pal
Top answer
Hi, Both are OK. Clive
- Hi, Both are OK.
- Clive
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11 Answers
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A native said to me that:
"There's a potential ambiguity- the singular could suggest they were working together and the plural that they had more than one definition, so I would rewrite it and say that they were unable to finish the task."
Consider this context:
Whenever I ask my students whether they can define ‘metaphysics’, they most often produce answers like
"There's a potential ambiguity- the singular could suggest they were working together and the plural that they had more than one definition, so I would rewrite it and say that they were unable to finish the task."
Consider this context:
Whenever I ask my students whether they can define ‘metaphysics’, they most often produce answers like
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Hi,
Consider this.
We often speak in ways that are potentially ambiguous and not completely precise. It's just normal English.
Often, the context will make the meaning clear. Often, the listener does not particularly care about your pre
Consider this.
We often speak in ways that are potentially ambiguous and not completely precise. It's just normal English.
Often, the context will make the meaning clear. Often, the listener does not particularly care about your pre
00
Hi,Your reasoning would make perfect sense if we were not talking about an academic essay. That's what I'm doing now.
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Hi,
Even in an academic essay, there is still some kind of context, and it commonly makes the meaning clear.
What is your context? eg What is the paragraph that contains this sentence.
Clive
Even in an academic essay, there is still some kind of context, and it commonly makes the meaning clear.
What is your context? eg What is the paragraph that contains this sentence.
Clive
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My context is something like:
"Metaphysics is a concept with fuzzy boundaries, if any. Whenever I ask my secondary school students (14 to 18 year olds) whether they can define it, they most often produce answers like “Of course, I can. Metaphysics is … hm, you know …” (and this is the moment when they realize that they will not be able to finish their definition) or “Sure. Metaphysics is
"Metaphysics is a concept with fuzzy boundaries, if any. Whenever I ask my secondary school students (14 to 18 year olds) whether they can define it, they most often produce answers like “Of course, I can. Metaphysics is … hm, you know …” (and this is the moment when they realize that they will not be able to finish their definition) or “Sure. Metaphysics is
00
Hi,
My context is something like:
"Metaphysics is a concept with fuzzy boundaries, if any. Whenever I ask my secondary school students (14 to 18 year olds) whether they can define it, they most often produce answers like “Of course, I can. Metaphysics is … hm, you know …” (and this is the moment when they realize that they will not be able to f
My context is something like:
"Metaphysics is a concept with fuzzy boundaries, if any. Whenever I ask my secondary school students (14 to 18 year olds) whether they can define it, they most often produce answers like “Of course, I can. Metaphysics is … hm, you know …” (and this is the moment when they realize that they will not be able to f
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Thanks Clive. How would you rewrite this paragraph to look more formal? What would you use instead of "etc.", for example?
Pal
Pal
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Hi,
How would you rewrite this paragraph to look more formal?
Can you give it a try? In many cases, including yours here, parentheses do not make the meaning very clear. I don't want to start trying to guess your precise meaning? As I say, try to rewrite it yourself.
What would you use instead of "et
How would you rewrite this paragraph to look more formal?
Can you give it a try? In many cases, including yours here, parentheses do not make the meaning very clear. I don't want to start trying to guess your precise meaning? As I say, try to rewrite it yourself.
What would you use instead of "et
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