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Taka Posted 22 years ago
Grammar
Which is correct?
The sentence:
About "were the figures drawn more true to life", is it:
(a ) if the figures drawn were more true to life
or
(b ) if the figure were drawn more true to life ?
IMO, it's (a ). But my book says it's (b )...
Presenting opposite characters permits the child to comprehend easily the difference between the two, which he could not do as readily were the figures drawn more true to life , with all the complexities that characterize real people.
About "were the figures drawn more true to life", is it:
(a ) if the figures drawn were more true to life
or
(b ) if the figure were drawn more true to life ?
IMO, it's (a ). But my book says it's (b )...
Top answer
The quote is apparently speaking of two contrasting figures, neither of which is drawn realistically. You are right, ( a ) is the answer, Taka. The discrepency between the statement and the answer sheet may be that in the statement, 'figure' refers to human figures, while the answer may be considering the single illustration 'figure' in which the two caricatures appear.
- The quote is apparently speaking of two contrasting figures, neither of which is drawn realistically.
- You are right, ( a ) is the answer, Taka.
- The discrepency between the statement and the answer sheet may be that in the statement, 'figure' refers to human figures, while the answer may be considering the single illustration 'figure' in which the two caricatures appear.
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25 Answers
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The quote is apparently speaking of two contrasting figures, neither of which is drawn realistically. You are right, ( a ) is the answer, Taka.
The discrepency between the statement and the answer sheet may be that in the statement, 'figure' refers to human figures, while the answer may be considering the single illustration 'figure' in which the two caricatures appear.
The discrepency between the statement and the answer sheet may be that in the statement, 'figure' refers to human figures, while the answer may be considering the single illustration 'figure' in which the two caricatures appear.
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Oops! Sorry, MM. It's a typo. (b ) is actually "if the figures were drawn more true to life". The question is about the position of "were".
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Aha! Hmm....
At first sight, I see nothing wrong with either, but it occurs to me that ( b) 'he could not do...if the figures were drawn more true to life' might better be 'had been drawn'.
Meanwhile, ( a) can be expanded to 'he could not do...if the figures (which have been) drawn were more true to life'-- which seems fine.
Yes, I like ( a) better, but it also seem
At first sight, I see nothing wrong with either, but it occurs to me that ( b) 'he could not do...if the figures were drawn more true to life' might better be 'had been drawn'.
Meanwhile, ( a) can be expanded to 'he could not do...if the figures (which have been) drawn were more true to life'-- which seems fine.
Yes, I like ( a) better, but it also seem
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Is it grammatically correct to say like "draw the figure true to life" (i.e. draw+object+complement)?
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They made my wife angry.
They made my wife an archbishop.
They drew my wife naked.
I think so, Taka. Can I go to bed now?
They made my wife an archbishop.
They drew my wife naked.
I think so, Taka. Can I go to bed now?
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I think that syntactically the construction is ambiguous between the two.
Either we're talking about the "figures" or the figures which were drawn, i.e., "drawn figures", expressed as "figures drawn". So either "figures" is the subject of the "if" clause and "were drawn" is the verb phrase or "figures drawn", "drawn" being an adjective, is the subject and "were" is the verb.
Either we're talking about the "figures" or the figures which were drawn, i.e., "drawn figures", expressed as "figures drawn". So either "figures" is the subject of the "if" clause and "were drawn" is the verb phrase or "figures drawn", "drawn" being an adjective, is the subject and "were" is the verb.
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Hello all
I agree that redundancy is a problem here - the 'drawnness' is partly present not only in 'figures', but also in 'true to life'.
There also seems to be a problem with the final clause, if 'drawn' is an adjective:
It seems to me t
I agree that redundancy is a problem here - the 'drawnness' is partly present not only in 'figures', but also in 'true to life'.
There also seems to be a problem with the final clause, if 'drawn' is an adjective:
were the figures drawn more true to life, with all the complexities that characterize real people.
It seems to me t
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If it's "figures were drawn true to life", is "true" an adjective or an adverb?
Seems like there is a case where "true" is used as an adverb.
The American Heritage? Dictionary of the Engl
Seems like there is a case where "true" is used as an adverb.
ADVERB: 1. In accord with reality, fact, or truthfulness. 2. Unswervingly; exactly: The archer aimed true. 3. So as to conform to a type, standard, or pattern.
The American Heritage? Dictionary of the Engl
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In my opinion it would have to be an adverb with an infinitival modifier - you don't see those every day, do you?
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