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Stenka25 Posted 10 years ago
Vocabulary

Which of the two is the real subject of 'without being hobbled'?

Which of the two is the real subject of 'without being hobbled'?

The passage below comes from the checkout from Google Books.

https://books.google.co.kr/books?id=Nj2lF6rjtq8C&pg=PR7&dq=%22The+internet+is+one+of+the+most+remarkable+things+human+beings%22&hl=en&sa=X&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22The%20internet%20is%20one%20of%20the%20most%20remarkable%20things%20human%20beings%22&f=false

The internet is one of the most remarkable things human beings have ever made. In terms of its impact on society..., some would equate it with print and television, the two earlier technologies which transformed most the communications environment. Yet it is potentially more powerful than both because it harnesses the intellectual leverage which print gave to mankind without being hobbled by the one-to-many nature of broadcast television.

In this passage I'd like to ask which of the two, between the INTERNET and PRINT is the real subject of 'without being hobbled'.

I have my answer. I think it's INTERNET because to be 'more powerful than both print and television' it should not be 'hobbled by the one-to-many nature of broadcast television'.
Am I right?

Regards.
  

Top answer

The internet is one of the most remarkable things human beings have ever made. , some would equate it with print and television, the two earlier technologies which transformed most the communications environment. Yet it is potentially more powerful than both because it harnesses the intellectual leverage which print gave to mankind without [ its ] being hobbled by the one-to-many nature of broadcast television.

  • The internet is one of the most remarkable things human beings have ever made.
  • , some would equate it with print and television, the two earlier technologies which transformed most the communications environment.
  • Yet it is potentially more powerful than both because it harnesses the intellectual leverage which print gave to mankind without [ its ] being hobbled by the one-to-many nature of broadcast television.
  • All the it s refer back to "the internet".
  • However, strictly speaking, this is the subject of the gerundive "being hobbled", not the subject of the prepositional phrase "without being hobbled".
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2 Answers
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The internet is one of the most remarkable things human beings have ever made. In terms of its impact on society..., some would equate it with print and television, the two earlier technologies which transformed most the communications environment. Yet it is potentially more powerful than both because it harnesses the intellectu
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Thanks a lot as always, CJEmotion: smile

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