What is the correct verb form in this sentence
Would you say "This is why I teach instead of draw all day" or "This is why I teach instead of drawing all day". I came across this sentence and triggered a heated debate on whether the verb forms have to match or not. Personally, I'm pretty stumped and don't know the answer so I'd appreciate some help as well as an explanation!
Top answer
I look at meaning first. If the verb forms match, "all day" bridges back to the first one. "This is why I teach instead of draw all day" is equivalent to "This is why I teach all day instead of draw all day", which is not what you mean.
- I look at meaning first.
- If the verb forms match, "all day" bridges back to the first one.
- "This is why I teach instead of draw all day" is equivalent to "This is why I teach all day instead of draw all day", which is not what you mean.
- The guiding principle here is that a sentence should yield its meaning upon close analysis, regardless of whether or not you think the reader can be expected to easily divine what you mean despite your clumsiness of expression.
- The reader should not have to.
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I look at meaning first. If the verb forms match, "all day" bridges back to the first one. "This is why I teach instead of draw all day" is equivalent to "This is why I teach all day instead of draw all day", which is not what you mean. The guiding principle here is that a sentence should yield its meaning upon close analysis, regardless of whether or not you think the reader can be expected t
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