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Chan-Seung Lee

Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Posts: 1032

Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 9:17 pm Post subject: the background

Quote:

1.The background of her poor performance in the concert was that she didn't have enough time to practice.
2.The reason for her poor performance in the concert was that she didn't have enough time to practice.

I saw #1 in a book, so I made up #2 as the same meaning as #1.
Is #2 the same meaning as #1?

Thanks.

dragn

Joined: 17 Feb 2009
Posts: 450

Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2009 7:14 am Post subject:

Quote:

The first one is terrible. It's possible you could win an argument that it doesn't violate any grammar rules, but who cares? It stinks. If someone put a gun to my head and told to use the word "background," I might say something like this:

Her performance in the concert was poor, but there is some background behind what happened: she really didn't have enough time to rehearse.

The second one is fine. By the way, stage performers of various types (musicians, actors, etc.) normally rehearse, not practice.

Greg

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