Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Junkomama]

Hello, teachers.

I think sentence 1. is not acceptable because "the priority seats are occupied by young people" is considered to be the reason of "We often see...".
And I think sentence 2. is OK.
Am I wrong?

1. We often see an elderly person standing in the train beacause the priority seats are occupied by young people.
2.We often see an elderly person standing in the train with the priority seats occupied by young people.

Thank you in advance!
Junkomama

[Mister Micawber]

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I agree that if we press the point we can misinterpret #1, but there is nothing wrong with it: the adverbial clause beginning with because will normally be read as relating to the nearest verb-- standing. Semantics also comes into play: many statements are open to misinterpretation if the listener fails to exercise normal logic about a situation.

#2 is a different structure for saying the same thing, but could be improved by substituting and for with.
.
_________________
"I really do not know that anything has ever been more exciting than diagramming sentences." � Gertrude Stein
...............
Canadian-American who teaches English for a living at Mr Micawber's

[Junkomama]

Thank you very much for your answer, Mister Micawber!!
Then the following sentence is also acceptable?

We often see young people occupying the priority seats though elderly people are standing.

Junkomama

[Mister Micawber]

.
That's an excellent way of phrasing it, Junkomama.
.
_________________
"I really do not know that anything has ever been more exciting than diagramming sentences." � Gertrude Stein
...............
Canadian-American who teaches English for a living at Mr Micawber's

[Junkomama]

Hello, Mister Micawber.
Thank you for all your help!!

With regards,
Junkomama