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Nugso Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Use of Within

Hello, I'd like to know whether these sentences are correct, especially the use of within.

Are you telling me that you finished your homework within 30 minutes which is 20 minutes below the deadline?

The war that leads to 50 million people's dead ended within 2 years.

Also, Is the in italic needed?

Thanks.
  

Top answer

Are you telling me that you finished your homework within 30 minutes which is 20 minutes below the deadline? No. You mean "in" 30 minutes, because you go on to do arithmetic with the deadline.

— Enoon

  • Are you telling me that you finished your homework within 30 minutes which is 20 minutes below the deadline?
  • No.
  • You mean "in" 30 minutes, because you go on to do arithmetic with the deadline.
  • Also, there is a missing comma, "which" sounds extraneous, and "below" is odd: Are you telling me that you finished your homework in 30 minutes, 20 minutes before the deadline?
  • The war that leads to 50 million people's dead ended within 2 years.
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9 Answers
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Are you telling me that you finished your homework within 30 minutes which is 20 minutes below the deadline?

No. You mean "in" 30 minutes, because you go on to do arithmetic with the deadline. Also, there is a missing comma, "which" sounds extraneous, and "below" is odd: Are you telling me that you finished your homework in
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Within 30 minutes means that he finished his homework in less than 30 minutes. For this reason, it's illogical to say that he accomplished this 20 minutes before the deadline, since he could have finished his homework in 5 minutes, for all we know.

Are you telling me that you finished your homework within 30 minutes, which is at least 20 minute
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Thank you very much, enoon. But I'm a bit confused, could you please help me?
enoonNo. You mean "in" 30 minutes, because you go on to do arithmetic with the deadline.
I don't really understand that part. Would you mind explaining?
enoon"which" sounds extraneous
Can you please clarify why which sounds extraneous?
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Oops! I did not see you post. I beg your pardon, Aspara Gus!
Aspara GusIn the first sentence, within 30 minutes means that he finished his homework in less than 30 minutes. For this reason, it's illogical to say that he accomplished this 20 minutes before the deadline, since he could have finished his homework in 5 minutes, for all we know.
Oh I got it now. The
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NugsoCan you please clarify why which sounds extraneous?
I don't know. "Which" always sounds like a setup for an explanation, and explanations are tedious, as a rule. I think you meant the version without "which". In other words, the important thing is not that 30 minutes is 20 minutes before the deadline, the important thing is that he finished 20 minutes bef
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I'm very grateful to you for you help, enoon! I think you got your point across well!
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NugsoI mean is there a chance of war being ended before 2 years?
Yes, a big one. If you want to say that the war lasted 2 years, use in.
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Much obliged, Aspara Gus.( I hope it does not sound informal)
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NugsoMuch obliged, Aspara Gus.( I hope it does not sound informal)
A bit, but there's nothing wrong with that! There's no need to be excessively formal here.
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