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SuperESL Posted 14 years ago
Vocabulary

What nature of

SuperESL:
Can the word 'nature' be substituted for the word 'kind' in the following questions and sentences? (It may seem a bit awkward or unusual to replace the more common 'kind' with 'nature,' but I am only interested in knowing if it is tenable strictly on word-usage grounds. I know very well that people don't write like this under most circumstances.)

"What nature of books do you like?" (reported speech: he asked what nature of books you liked)
"What nature of friends are the two of you?" (reported speech: she wishes to know what nature of friends the two of you are)
"What nature of motives does such a horrendous act call on?" (reported speech: the book asks what nature of motives such a horrendous act calls on)
"What nature of food should people with this disease avoid?" (reported speech: I asked the doctor what nature of food people with this disease should avoid)

Thank you for your help!
  

Top answer

SuperESL I am only interested in knowing if it is tenable strictly on word-usage grounds. I know very well that people don't write like this under most circumstances You have answered your own question. Your 'nature's work only grammatically; they are not natural.

  • SuperESL I am only interested in knowing if it is tenable strictly on word-usage grounds.
  • I know very well that people don't write like this under most circumstances You have answered your own question.
  • Your 'nature's work only grammatically; they are not natural.
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1 Answers
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SuperESL I am only interested in knowing if it is tenable strictly on word-usage grounds. I know very well that people don't write like this under most circumstances
You have answered your own question. Your 'nature's work only grammatically; they are not natural.

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