|
Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
www0935
Joined: 14 Apr 2008
Posts: 173
|
 Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 6:28 pm Post subject: individual or particular? |
 |
|
The following is my question:
Because many people received the same first name, they were additionally differentiated by another name, now called the last name. Many of the last names were passed down in __________ families.
(A) typical (B) individual (C) entire (D) particular
The answer is (B), but how about (D)? In this sentence, is there any difference between these two words?
Thanks for your help. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
dragn
Joined: 17 Feb 2009
Posts: 450
|
| Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 9:18 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
Because many people received the same first name, they were additionally differentiated by another name, now called the last name. Many of the last names were passed down in __________ families.
(A) typical (B) individual (C) entire (D) particular
The answer is (B), but how about (D)? In this sentence, is there any difference between these two words? |
I agree that the best answer is B. The adjective individual means relating to one person or thing rather than a group of people or things. That is the appropriate emphasis in the given passage. One last name was passed down in one family; another last name was passed down in another family, and so on.
The adjective particular emphasizes that you are talking about one person or thing or one kind of person or thing and not other similar people or things. Consider this sentence:
Many of the last names were passed down in particular families.
Using particular here seems to suggest that last names were passed down in certain families and not other similar families. Note that there is absolutely nothing grammatically wrong with using particular in the above sentence.
Here's the hard part:
Using individual gives us emphasis that is clearly appropriate for the given text.
Using particular gives us emphasis that I don't sense any need or reason for in relation to the given text.
For example, we are not told anything about what kinds of families passed down last names and what types did not. If the passage mentioned something along that line, then particular could possibly be a better choice than it is in relation to the given passage.
Hope this helps.
Greg |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
