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winterfall
Joined: 21 May 2009
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 Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 7:20 pm Post subject: Grammar: Infitive To (Complex Sentence) |
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A KET asked me a complicated grammar question. I don't know the answer to, usually I solve them by rewriting and simplifying the sentence. But this KET wants to keep the complex grammar form. Does anyone know if this sentence can be changed to an "Infinitive To" form without changing the overall structure or corresponding sentences.
Original Passage
"A typed envelop, in order not to attract particular attention during delivery," remarked Stanwick."But the blackmailer didn't want to use the typewriter any more than necessary for fear that it might
later be identified.Hence the use of newspaper clippings for the note itself, and the extreme conciseness of the address, which omits the state and ZIP code."
The sentence that needs to be changed is this:
"But the blackmailer didn't want to use the typewriter any more than necessary for fear that it might later be identified.
Change to:
But the blackmailer didn't want to use the typewriter any more than necessary in order that it would later be identified.
I rewrote the sentence as:
But the blackmailer didn't want to use the typewriter any more than necessary in order not to be identified (It is implied)
But the KET wants to keep "It" in the clause |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 7:29 pm Post subject: |
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But the blackmailer didn't want to use the typewriter any more than necessary in order for it not to be identified?
[/quote] |
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winterfall
Joined: 21 May 2009
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| Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 8:23 pm Post subject: |
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| edwardcatflap wrote: |
But the blackmailer didn't want to use the typewriter any more than necessary in order for it not to be identified?
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You make it look so easy. Thanks. I'm not great with grammar  |
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SeoulNate
Joined: 04 Jun 2010
Location: Hyehwa
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| Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 9:33 pm Post subject: |
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I think the whole context is incorrect.
the word it is referring to the typewriter itself in the sentence, which is not correct.
The way that you rewrote it would be correct in my estimation since the blackmailer is the one who does not want to be identified.
Even in the first sentence,
| Quote: |
| But the blackmailer didn't want to use the typewriter any more than necessary for fear that it might later be identified |
it should be he and the sentence should read,
But the blackmailer didn't want to use the typewriter any more than necessary for fear that he might later be identified |
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winterfall
Joined: 21 May 2009
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| Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 11:40 pm Post subject: |
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| SeoulNate wrote: |
I think the whole context is incorrect.
the word it is referring to the typewriter itself in the sentence, which is not correct.
The way that you rewrote it would be correct in my estimation since the blackmailer is the one who does not want to be identified.
Even in the first sentence,
| Quote: |
| But the blackmailer didn't want to use the typewriter any more than necessary for fear that it might later be identified |
it should be he and the sentence should read,
But the blackmailer didn't want to use the typewriter any more than necessary for fear that he might later be identified |
Completely agree. Unnecessarily complicated and wordy. No surprise, it came out of a Korean textbook  |
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drydell
Joined: 01 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 4:37 pm Post subject: |
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winterfall
Joined: 21 May 2009
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| Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 11:33 pm Post subject: |
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| drydell wrote: |
no no no!...You think that passage was written by a Korean?!! no way Josay!
It reads perfectly fine - until you lot butchered it!.....
It is very reasonable that the blackmailer fears the typewriter will be identified as the source of the blackmailing letters - what's so hard to understand about that?
What you have done in rewriting that sentence is stripped it of its literary merits... i.e. removed the emotion - for fear of- and replaced it with -in order to - how very ESL/TOEFL prep!
it was a fine flowing sentence - the rewrite sounds clunky and worse.
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And you've demonstrated your inability to read. Well done! 
| winterfall wrote: |
KET wants to keep the complex grammar form. Does anyone know if this sentence can be changed to an "Infinitive To" form
"But the blackmailer didn't want to use the typewriter any more than necessary for fear that it might later be identified." |
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drydell
Joined: 01 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2011 11:54 pm Post subject: |
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| winterfall wrote: |
| drydell wrote: |
no no no!...You think that passage was written by a Korean?!! no way Josay!
It reads perfectly fine - until you lot butchered it!.....
It is very reasonable that the blackmailer fears the typewriter will be identified as the source of the blackmailing letters - what's so hard to understand about that?
What you have done in rewriting that sentence is stripped it of its literary merits... i.e. removed the emotion - for fear of- and replaced it with -in order to - how very ESL/TOEFL prep!
it was a fine flowing sentence - the rewrite sounds clunky and worse.
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And you've demonstrated your inability to read. Well done!
| winterfall wrote: |
KET wants to keep the complex grammar form. Does anyone know if this sentence can be changed to an "Infinitive To" form
"But the blackmailer didn't want to use the typewriter any more than necessary for fear that it might later be identified." |
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I was responding to the claim the sentence must have been written by a Korean (clearly not) and that the original sentence didn't make sense (it did) and that the rewrite/change of meaning was therefore an improvement (it wasn't).
Fair enough I wasn't helping the OP with their request - can't disagree with that.. |
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bobbybigfoot
Joined: 05 May 2007
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2011 7:13 pm Post subject: |
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The original sentence is best. Actually conveys sentiment and meaning.
The KT change places #2. It's okay.
The NET change comes last. Ambiguous. Meh. Don't like it. |
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