0
Samir1 Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
"Those of"
This is an example from a newspaper:
"Miss Holdsworth said that the robot would help demonstrate how basic principles, such as those of light, sound and magnetism, are applied to modern technology.”
My question is this: Isn't "those of" in this sentence unnecessary? Wouldn't the sentence have to be something like, "… how the basic principles of science, such as those of light, sound and magnetism, are applied to modern technology," for "those of" to be necessary and not superfluous?
I.e., it has to be "of" something, doesn't it? The principles "of" science.
Even if this is commonly accepted enough to find its way into a newspaper, I'd like to know how it's supposed to be done. Thank you.
"Miss Holdsworth said that the robot would help demonstrate how basic principles, such as those of light, sound and magnetism, are applied to modern technology.”
My question is this: Isn't "those of" in this sentence unnecessary? Wouldn't the sentence have to be something like, "… how the basic principles of science, such as those of light, sound and magnetism, are applied to modern technology," for "those of" to be necessary and not superfluous?
I.e., it has to be "of" something, doesn't it? The principles "of" science.
Even if this is commonly accepted enough to find its way into a newspaper, I'd like to know how it's supposed to be done. Thank you.
Top answer
e. it means "such as the basic principles of light, sound and magnetism". However, "the basic principles of light, sound and magnetism" is subtly ambiguous, in my opinion.
- e.
- it means "such as the basic principles of light, sound and magnetism".
- However, "the basic principles of light, sound and magnetism" is subtly ambiguous, in my opinion.
- It could mean that light, sound and magnetism are underlain by basic principles, or it could mean that they are basic principles (like the way we say "the cities of London and Paris", for example).
- The latter meaning is the one that would obtain if "those of" were deleted.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
3 Answers
0
"those" means "basic principles", i.e. it means "such as the basic principles of light, sound and magnetism". However, "the basic principles of light, sound and magnetism" is subtly ambiguous, in my opinion. It could mean that light, sound and magnetism are underlain by basic principles, or it could mean that they are basic principles (like the way we say "the cities of London and Paris", f
00
Thank you. Can you clarify from here: "(like the way we say "the cities of London and Paris", for example). The latter meaning is the one that would obtain if "those of" were deleted"?
Am I correct in thinking you're saying the newspaper is correct?
If so, can you explain to me the difference between these two sentences?
1. "Miss Holdsworth said that the robot would help
Am I correct in thinking you're saying the newspaper is correct?
If so, can you explain to me the difference between these two sentences?
1. "Miss Holdsworth said that the robot would help
00
Samir1Thank you. Can you clarify from here: "(like the way we say "the cities of London and Paris", for example). The latter meaning is the one that would obtain if "those of" were deleted"?When you say "the cities of London and Paris", it means that London and Paris are cities. In the same way, one interpretation of "the basic principles of light, sound and
0
Related Questions