Site Search:
 
Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums Forum Index Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

important

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Help Center
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Chan-Seung Lee



Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Posts: 1032

PostPosted: Tue May 22, 2007 2:25 am    Post subject: important Reply with quote

Quote:
Equally important to adding years to your life is adding life to your years.


Is the above quote correct gramatically?
If so, can I change it to 'Adding life to your years is equally important to adding years to your life'?

Thanks.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
lotus



Joined: 25 Jan 2004
Posts: 862

PostPosted: Thu May 24, 2007 9:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Chan-Seung Lee,

That's a pretty good quote. You can say it either way.

Another way to say it might be:

Adding life to your years is just as important as adding years to your life.


--lotus
_________________
War does not make one great --Yoda
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
buddhaheart



Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Posts: 195
Location: Vancouver, BC Canada

PostPosted: Sun May 27, 2007 7:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

In my opinion, the �to� after �important� is not a preposition, it�s an infinitive marker. Therefore the verb after �to� should be in its base form �add� instead of �adding�.

I prefer the �to� construction. For example, it�s equally important to add life to your years as to add years to your life.

Yes, you can change the order of the sentence thus suggested. However, I would prefer to write it as To add life to your years is equally important to add years to your life.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Lorikeet



Joined: 08 Oct 2005
Posts: 1877
Location: San Francisco

PostPosted: Sun May 27, 2007 9:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

buddhaheart wrote:
?In my opinion, the �to� after �important� is not a preposition, it�s an infinitive marker. Therefore the verb after �to� should be in its base form �add� instead of �adding�.

I prefer the �to� construction. For example, it�s equally important to add life to your years as to add years to your life.

Yes, you can change the order of the sentence thus suggested. However, I would prefer to write it as To add life to your years is equally important to add years to your life.


The original quote was, "Equally important to adding years to your life is adding life to your years." which Lotus changed to "Adding life to your years is just as important as adding years to your life." I like both of these. I don't think your version has the same "zing" to it.

"It's equally important to add life to your years as to add years to your life." is the same meaning as "Adding life to your years is equally important as adding years to your life."

Just like:

"It's interesting to listen to different English speakers." is the same meaning as:
"Listening to different English speakers is interesting."

I don't see the difference in terms of grammatical correctness.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Help Center All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Dave's ESL Cafe is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Banner Advertising | Bookstore / Alta Books | FAQs | Articles | Interview with Dave
Copyright © 2018 Dave's ESL Cafe | All Rights Reserved | Contact Dave's ESL Cafe | Site Map

Teachers College, Columbia University: Train to Teach English Here or Abroad
SIT
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group