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Discussion Groups / English Usage / February 2009an adejctive clause modify two antecedents?
Hello, This is an inquiry about grammar. -------------- [It] requires that a member or candidate, in evaluating a takeover bid, act prudently and solely in the interests of plan participants and beneficiaries. To meet this requirement, a member or candidate must carefully evaluate the long-term prospects of the company against the short-term prospects presented by the takeover offer and by the ability to invest elsewhere. [...] -------------- I was wondering whether "presented by the takeover offer and by the ability to invest elsewhere" modifies both long- and short-term prospects? If yes, how should put a sentence in which, without being awkward or clumsy, I use an adjective clause to modify two antecedents (perhaps one being words away from the other)? In this case, I think, if I put "both" before "presented," it would be more clear, right? Best Wishes Tacia > Hello, > [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > In this case, I think, if I put "both" before "presented," it would be > more clear, right? It's clear enough as it stands. The repetition of "by" shows that the "presented" applies to both "the takeover offer" and "the ability to..." If you wish to add "both", it must be AFTER "presented". Alan Jones > -------------- > [It] requires that a member or candidate, in evaluating a takeover [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > and by the ability to invest elsewhere. [...] > -------------- > I was wondering whether "presented by the takeover offer and by the > ability to invest elsewhere" modifies both long- and short-term > prospects? As the text stands, "presented ... elsewhere" appears pretty clearly to modify only "short-term prospects". The modifying phrase is part of the prepositional phrase beginning with "against". > If yes, how should put a sentence in which, without being awkward or > clumsy, I use an adjective clause to modify two antecedents (perhaps > one being words away from the other)? > In this case, I think, if I put "both" before "presented," it would > be more clear, right? Yes, with a little tweaking. You could write "...evaluate the long-term prospects of the company against its short-term prospects insofar as both are affected by the takeover offer and by the ability to invest elsewhere." I have changed "presented" to "affected" because the original sentence compares (long-term) prospects *of* the company, as belonging to it, with (short-term) prospects presented *to* the company by the offer and by alternative possibilities. But, as I have said, I don't think a change is required here. Maybe some contrary opinions will be offered. |
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