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pkang0202

Joined: 09 Mar 2007
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Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 6:35 pm Post subject: Grammar Question |
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In a word, first born children should be conservative and a bully. _________, second-born children have to cope in a world that contains this obsequious martinet.
The answer for the blank is "Contrastively", however, another choice is "otherwise".
My first assumption would be that otherwise is a conjuctive adverb and can not be used like that.
Are there any cases where it would be ok to use Otherwise instead of Contrastively? |
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I'm no Picasso
Joined: 28 Oct 2008
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Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 6:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Is this a joke? |
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pkang0202

Joined: 09 Mar 2007
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Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 12:56 am Post subject: |
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| I'm no Picasso wrote: |
| Is this a joke? |
This would be a typical English exam question at a high school. I didn't make the question, and I didn't come up with the answers.
Apparently, a bunch of students answered "otherwise" and are complaining to the head English department, Vice Principal, and the Principal. So, I get called into school on my day off to try and get the "final answer". Of course, I can't simply say, "this is the right answer because I said so."
There has to be a concrete reason as to why the given answer is correct, and a concrete reason as to why "otherwise" is incorrect.
Korean students just can't accept a wrong answer. They need a hundred and one reasons WHY it isn't the right answer.
Anyways, I think I found the answer to my question. Otherwise is a conjunctive adverb, and used to connect 2 clauses. If the 2 clauses are in separate sentences, than Otherwise would follow a verb. |
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lifeinkorea
Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China
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Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 1:21 am Post subject: |
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I can't "see" the reason by applying grammar rules as you stated. However, I do see a distinct difference.
When we use "otherwise", we are talking about the same topic ("Make your bed. Otherwise, you will be in trouble"). It's either doing something or not doing the same act.
Contrastively, when we use "constratively" we can talk about two different topics as stated in the test question.
I also see how it could be bit of a trick question, because we do have "On the other hand". It's possible, the test makers wanted to trip up students who think "otherwise" and "on the other hand" are the same.
Last edited by lifeinkorea on Mon Jul 06, 2009 1:22 am; edited 1 time in total |
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warren pease

Joined: 12 May 2008
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Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 1:22 am Post subject: |
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| I, honestly, had no idea that contrastively was a word, and I am in no way ashamed of this fact. Furthermore, I hereby pledge to never use said word and to mock any persons using said word in my presence. |
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lifeinkorea
Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China
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Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 1:23 am Post subject: |
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Contrastively, I think it is an awesome word  |
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sugarkane59
Joined: 10 Jun 2009 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 1:25 am Post subject: Wow |
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| Contrastively is hardly ever used in England, but out of the two options, it sounds the most viable. I think in this context, and being mindful of what the sentence is trying to convey, I think that otherwise does not fit at all. |
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pkang0202

Joined: 09 Mar 2007
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Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 5:27 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks for the info. |
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I'm no Picasso
Joined: 28 Oct 2008
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Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 6:04 am Post subject: |
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| pkang0202 wrote: |
| I'm no Picasso wrote: |
| Is this a joke? |
This would be a typical English exam question at a high school. I didn't make the question, and I didn't come up with the answers.
Apparently, a bunch of students answered "otherwise" and are complaining to the head English department, Vice Principal, and the Principal. So, I get called into school on my day off to try and get the "final answer". Of course, I can't simply say, "this is the right answer because I said so."
There has to be a concrete reason as to why the given answer is correct, and a concrete reason as to why "otherwise" is incorrect.
Korean students just can't accept a wrong answer. They need a hundred and one reasons WHY it isn't the right answer.
Anyways, I think I found the answer to my question. Otherwise is a conjunctive adverb, and used to connect 2 clauses. If the 2 clauses are in separate sentences, than Otherwise would follow a verb. |
That's a typical high school English exam question?
Boy, are my middle school third graders in for a rude awakening. Jesus.... |
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martypants
Joined: 15 Feb 2009 Location: Ulsan, South Korea
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Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 6:12 am Post subject: |
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I believe the word you want is "contrastingly."
"Otherwise" is more used an "or else" clause.
My $0.02 |
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lifeinkorea
Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China
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Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 8:02 am Post subject: |
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Look at all the contrastiveness in our answers  |
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friendoken
Joined: 19 Jan 2008
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Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 4:13 pm Post subject: |
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| warren pease wrote: |
| I, honestly, had no idea that contrastively was a word, and I am in no way ashamed of this fact. Furthermore, I hereby pledge to never use said word and to mock any persons using said word in my presence. |
Ditto. From Webster's Online Dictionary
Usage Frequency: Contrastive
"Contrastive" is generally used as an adjective (general or positive) -- approximately 95.00% of the time. "Contrastive" is used about 40 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted)
If ya ain't never heard it afore don't feel bad  |
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