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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

"Without moving" but "without any movement"

Hello all. I have a question that is puzzling me. I was asked by a student this question and I want to give a very clear answer that will satisfy him. The question is:

The baby slept without any ___________. (use the appropriate form of "move")

The correct answer is "movement" but why is moving wrong? What does the "any" do that makes it wrong to use "moving" in this case? What do I mean is this:

The baby slept without moving. O (no any) OK

The baby slept without any moving. X (with any) Not OK

The baby slept without movement. (to me, it seems very strange, but I don't know if it is incorrect. I would think so) X Not OK

The baby slept without any movement. O (with any) OK

The students are given a sentence in the first language which means "The baby slept without any movement" (of the body, i.e. quietly, and without any bodily motions) so there is no ambiguity of what meaning is desired.

I thought it might be due to the fact that "move" used in the intransitive sense usually means "moving place of residence," but that is not the case here.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

Charles Rosenberg
  

Top answer

Hi, The baby slept without any moving. I wouldn't say this is wrong, but it sounds awkward and unnatural. The natural thing to say is The baby slept without moving.

  • Hi, The baby slept without any moving.
  • I wouldn't say this is wrong, but it sounds awkward and unnatural.
  • The natural thing to say is The baby slept without moving.
  • The word 'any' does not add extra meaning here.
  • Clive
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1 Answers
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Hi,

The baby slept without any moving.

I wouldn't say this is wrong, but it sounds awkward and unnatural.

The natural thing to say is The baby slept without moving. The word 'any' does not add extra meaning here.

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