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Alc24 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

WHATS THE DIFFERENCE?

Whats the difference between these 2 sentences and how would you explain them? When I say them out loud, they both kind of mean the same thing, or seem vague. Are they both possible?

1 What criteria do you base your theory on?

2 What theory do you base your criteria on?

Can you say? Which are wrong? Can anything be based on anything or does it sometimes not work?

- Based on what is this neighborhood better than that one?
- The research is based on the theory stated earlier.
- The theory is based on the research.
- The theory is based on facts.

Thank you
  

Top answer

It does seem vague. But I think the problem is you are leaving out a third, necessary element. Theories are based on facts (and so, in some ways, are criteria).

— Doctor D

  • It does seem vague.
  • But I think the problem is you are leaving out a third, necessary element.
  • Theories are based on facts (and so, in some ways, are criteria).
  • Criteria are a set of individual standards; a theory is one unified interpretation.
  • One is not included in the other or based on the other.
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10 Answers
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It does seem vague. But I think the problem is you are leaving out a third, necessary element. Theories are based on facts (and so, in some ways, are criteria). Criteria are a set of individual standards; a theory is one unified interpretation. One is not included in the other or based on the other. They have separate functions.


You could say: What criteria do yo
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Thank you Doctor D,

I had one question,

The first 2 examples are still a bit unclear,

I thought since it made sense to say the following that the 2 questions worked.

The theory is based on this criteria.

The criteria is based on this theory.

Do these make sense? because I tried to use the interrogative.

Thank you
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One little thing please?

What do you think about:

The criteria is based on a theory.

Is that possible

or

The theory is based on the criteria.

Thank you
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alc24One little thing please?

What do you think about:

The criteria is based on a theory.

Is that possible

or

The theory is based on the criteria.

Thank you
Dr. D already gave you the answer. Your sentences are illogical and
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Hello Dr D,

Could you tell me if the sentence is natural, you corrected it, but is it something you would say or would you reword it:

Based on what theory (or criteria) is this neighborhood better than that one?

Thank you Doctor D

Alex
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I think the reply to your question would be something like:

This neighborhood is better than than one based on these factors:

1) Less crime

2) Proximity to public transit

3) Etc.

so you would use "criteria" rather than theory.
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This neighborhood is better than than THAT one based on these factors:

(sorry, forgot the THAT in the previous response)
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Either version is "natural." You could be more informal if you wished:

By what theory is this neighborhood better than that one? (The theory that the more mothers, the better the neighborhood.)

By what criteria is this neighborhood better than that one? (The following criteria: crime rate, population density, parking spaces.)
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Hello,

I came across this tread about the subject I had a question about.

Are these both natural utterances?

What criteria do you based your movie ratings on?
What criteria do you use to rate your movies?

Thank you
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Either would work (but "base" not "based").
But the second sentence would be my preference.
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