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Navitasan Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
Was played to...
1) The King's Indian Defense was played by the then world champion to defeat Paul Thopsonn.
2) The then world champion played the King's Indian Defense to defeat Paul Thopsonn.
(We are talking about chess. King's Indian Defense is an opening in chess.)
Do the sentences mean that the then world champion intended to defeat Paul Thopsonn or that he did defeat him?
Is the 'to clause' a result clause or a purpose clause?
I think technically the sentences could have both interpretations, but in this case one assumes that he did indeed defeat him. It is obvious that his purpose was to defeat him. There is no point in mentioning that.
Gratefully,
Navi.
2) The then world champion played the King's Indian Defense to defeat Paul Thopsonn.
(We are talking about chess. King's Indian Defense is an opening in chess.)
Do the sentences mean that the then world champion intended to defeat Paul Thopsonn or that he did defeat him?
Is the 'to clause' a result clause or a purpose clause?
I think technically the sentences could have both interpretations, but in this case one assumes that he did indeed defeat him. It is obvious that his purpose was to defeat him. There is no point in mentioning that.
Gratefully,
Navi.
Top answer
The sentences convey the same meaning, one being in the active voice, the other in the passive voice. Right, it is assumed he wants to win, so "eventually to defeat" would take care of that doubt. I think it works better in the sentence in the active voice (comma between 'defense' and 'eventually').
- The sentences convey the same meaning, one being in the active voice, the other in the passive voice.
- Right, it is assumed he wants to win, so "eventually to defeat" would take care of that doubt.
- I think it works better in the sentence in the active voice (comma between 'defense' and 'eventually').
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3 Answers
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The sentences convey the same meaning, one being in the active voice, the other in the passive voice.
Right, it is assumed he wants to win, so "eventually to defeat" would take care of that doubt. I think it works better in the sentence in the active voice (comma between 'defense' and 'eventually').
Right, it is assumed he wants to win, so "eventually to defeat" would take care of that doubt. I think it works better in the sentence in the active voice (comma between 'defense' and 'eventually').
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navitasanIs the 'to clause' a result clause or a purpose clause?It smells a lot more like a result clause to me.
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Thank you both very much.
But that was the idea. The grammar does not really tell you whether it is a result clause or not, but he who has a nose knows!
Gratefully,
Navi.
But that was the idea. The grammar does not really tell you whether it is a result clause or not, but he who has a nose knows!
Gratefully,
Navi.
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