“By doing sth, it is …” is it real English?
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Here is a quote from the Global Times article "China rumors fly before Taiwan vote":
By restating these rumors, it’s they who are guiding the public
opinion, trying to influence people’s voting.
I think it's not a decent English.
sentence-structure
edited Nov 23 at 17:51
Lightness Races in Orbit
1,264810
asked Nov 23 at 6:10
马化腾
1,178521
|
show 4 more comments
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
Here is a quote from the Global Times article "China rumors fly before Taiwan vote":
By restating these rumors, it’s they who are guiding the public
opinion, trying to influence people’s voting.
I think it's not a decent English.
sentence-structure
edited Nov 23 at 17:51
Lightness Races in Orbit
1,264810
asked Nov 23 at 6:10
马化腾
1,178521
4
What makes you think that this is not legitimate English? Furthermore, where did you get that quote from? It'd be kind of helpful if you could cite your source.
– Michael Rybkin
Nov 23 at 6:18
@MichaelRybkin What is the subject? "By restating these rumors"? "it" refers to "By restating these rumors"?
– 马化腾
Nov 23 at 6:44
@MichaelRybkin Because I feet it a real Chinese what was translated to English.
– 马化腾
Nov 23 at 6:46
Will it be easier for you to understand if it's paraphrased as: By restating these rumors, they are guiding the public opinion, trying to influence people’s voting. ? The structure "It's...who..." is used for the emphasis purpose. Here it emphasized 'they',( not someone else) who are doing those things.
– dan
Nov 23 at 7:52
the linked article reads quite tersely, it doesn't flow. The sentence you mention is fine
– Vorsprung
Nov 23 at 8:35
|
show 4 more comments
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
up vote
0
down vote
favorite
Here is a quote from the Global Times article "China rumors fly before Taiwan vote":
By restating these rumors, it’s they who are guiding the public
opinion, trying to influence people’s voting.
I think it's not a decent English.
sentence-structure
edited Nov 23 at 17:51
Lightness Races in Orbit
1,264810
asked Nov 23 at 6:10
马化腾
1,178521
Here is a quote from the Global Times article "China rumors fly before Taiwan vote":
By restating these rumors, it’s they who are guiding the public
opinion, trying to influence people’s voting.
I think it's not a decent English.
sentence-structure
sentence-structure
edited Nov 23 at 17:51
Lightness Races in Orbit
1,264810
asked Nov 23 at 6:10
马化腾
1,178521
edited Nov 23 at 17:51
Lightness Races in Orbit
1,264810
asked Nov 23 at 6:10
马化腾
1,178521
edited Nov 23 at 17:51
Lightness Races in Orbit
1,264810
edited Nov 23 at 17:51
Lightness Races in Orbit
1,264810
edited Nov 23 at 17:51
Lightness Races in Orbit
1,264810
1,264810
asked Nov 23 at 6:10
马化腾
1,178521
asked Nov 23 at 6:10
马化腾
1,178521
asked Nov 23 at 6:10
马化腾
1,178521
1,178521
4
What makes you think that this is not legitimate English? Furthermore, where did you get that quote from? It'd be kind of helpful if you could cite your source.
– Michael Rybkin
Nov 23 at 6:18
@MichaelRybkin What is the subject? "By restating these rumors"? "it" refers to "By restating these rumors"?
– 马化腾
Nov 23 at 6:44
@MichaelRybkin Because I feet it a real Chinese what was translated to English.
– 马化腾
Nov 23 at 6:46
Will it be easier for you to understand if it's paraphrased as: By restating these rumors, they are guiding the public opinion, trying to influence people’s voting. ? The structure "It's...who..." is used for the emphasis purpose. Here it emphasized 'they',( not someone else) who are doing those things.
– dan
Nov 23 at 7:52
the linked article reads quite tersely, it doesn't flow. The sentence you mention is fine
– Vorsprung
Nov 23 at 8:35
|
show 4 more comments
4
What makes you think that this is not legitimate English? Furthermore, where did you get that quote from? It'd be kind of helpful if you could cite your source.
– Michael Rybkin
Nov 23 at 6:18
@MichaelRybkin What is the subject? "By restating these rumors"? "it" refers to "By restating these rumors"?
– 马化腾
Nov 23 at 6:44
@MichaelRybkin Because I feet it a real Chinese what was translated to English.
– 马化腾
Nov 23 at 6:46
Will it be easier for you to understand if it's paraphrased as: By restating these rumors, they are guiding the public opinion, trying to influence people’s voting. ? The structure "It's...who..." is used for the emphasis purpose. Here it emphasized 'they',( not someone else) who are doing those things.
– dan
Nov 23 at 7:52
the linked article reads quite tersely, it doesn't flow. The sentence you mention is fine
– Vorsprung
Nov 23 at 8:35
4
4
What makes you think that this is not legitimate English? Furthermore, where did you get that quote from? It'd be kind of helpful if you could cite your source.
– Michael Rybkin
Nov 23 at 6:18
What makes you think that this is not legitimate English? Furthermore, where did you get that quote from? It'd be kind of helpful if you could cite your source.
– Michael Rybkin
Nov 23 at 6:18
@MichaelRybkin What is the subject? "By restating these rumors"? "it" refers to "By restating these rumors"?
– 马化腾
Nov 23 at 6:44
@MichaelRybkin What is the subject? "By restating these rumors"? "it" refers to "By restating these rumors"?
– 马化腾
Nov 23 at 6:44
@MichaelRybkin Because I feet it a real Chinese what was translated to English.
– 马化腾
Nov 23 at 6:46
@MichaelRybkin Because I feet it a real Chinese what was translated to English.
– 马化腾
Nov 23 at 6:46
Will it be easier for you to understand if it's paraphrased as: By restating these rumors, they are guiding the public opinion, trying to influence people’s voting. ? The structure "It's...who..." is used for the emphasis purpose. Here it emphasized 'they',( not someone else) who are doing those things.
– dan
Nov 23 at 7:52
Will it be easier for you to understand if it's paraphrased as: By restating these rumors, they are guiding the public opinion, trying to influence people’s voting. ? The structure "It's...who..." is used for the emphasis purpose. Here it emphasized 'they',( not someone else) who are doing those things.
– dan
Nov 23 at 7:52
the linked article reads quite tersely, it doesn't flow. The sentence you mention is fine
– Vorsprung
Nov 23 at 8:35
the linked article reads quite tersely, it doesn't flow. The sentence you mention is fine
– Vorsprung
Nov 23 at 8:35
|
show 4 more comments
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
7
down vote
accepted
There's nothing wrong with that sentence. "By" here uses this definition of the word:
[often with verbal noun] Indicating the means of achieving something.
‘malaria can be controlled by attacking the parasite’
Oxford Dictionaries
For this specific definition of "by", it is OK for the entire prepositional phrase to be moved to the beginning of the sentence.
Here's an example:
By doing that you made the whole crime worthless.
Cast in Order of Disappearance
For hundreds (even thousands) of examples you can search . by *ing (the . matches a period and *ing matches words ending in "ing") in COCA (for American English) or BNC (for British English).
answered Nov 23 at 6:54
Laurel
4,55811127
1
I have never thought COCA can do regex search, excellent
– 马化腾
Nov 23 at 7:33
3
@马化腾 It's not a regex search, since the symbols are different. Also, what it can do only slightly overlaps with regexes. It's much more useful for language queries. Someday I'll write a tutorial for the BYU corpora, since the syntax is definitely equally as confusing...
– Laurel
Nov 23 at 9:05
add a comment |
up vote
12
down vote
There are numerous grammatical and idiomatic errors in the linked article. It was clearly written by a non-native English speaker. I can't tell you if this is because it is a translation from the Chinese, or for some other reason.
However, this particular sentence is fine. This use of "it" is what is called an "existential" or "dummy" pronoun, and is quite common. Other examples:
A: Thank you for making dinner for us!
B: You're welcome, but I can't take credit. It is my brother who did all the cooking.
It is true that I own a zebra.
Isn't it obvious? It is Professor Plum who committed the murder, in the library, with the lead pipe!
answered Nov 23 at 6:54
Andrew
62.9k573141
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
7
down vote
accepted
There's nothing wrong with that sentence. "By" here uses this definition of the word:
[often with verbal noun] Indicating the means of achieving something.
‘malaria can be controlled by attacking the parasite’
Oxford Dictionaries
For this specific definition of "by", it is OK for the entire prepositional phrase to be moved to the beginning of the sentence.
Here's an example:
By doing that you made the whole crime worthless.
Cast in Order of Disappearance
For hundreds (even thousands) of examples you can search . by *ing (the . matches a period and *ing matches words ending in "ing") in COCA (for American English) or BNC (for British English).
answered Nov 23 at 6:54
Laurel
4,55811127
1
I have never thought COCA can do regex search, excellent
– 马化腾
Nov 23 at 7:33
3
@马化腾 It's not a regex search, since the symbols are different. Also, what it can do only slightly overlaps with regexes. It's much more useful for language queries. Someday I'll write a tutorial for the BYU corpora, since the syntax is definitely equally as confusing...
– Laurel
Nov 23 at 9:05
add a comment |
up vote
7
down vote
accepted
There's nothing wrong with that sentence. "By" here uses this definition of the word:
[often with verbal noun] Indicating the means of achieving something.
‘malaria can be controlled by attacking the parasite’
Oxford Dictionaries
For this specific definition of "by", it is OK for the entire prepositional phrase to be moved to the beginning of the sentence.
Here's an example:
By doing that you made the whole crime worthless.
Cast in Order of Disappearance
For hundreds (even thousands) of examples you can search . by *ing (the . matches a period and *ing matches words ending in "ing") in COCA (for American English) or BNC (for British English).
answered Nov 23 at 6:54
Laurel
4,55811127
1
I have never thought COCA can do regex search, excellent
– 马化腾
Nov 23 at 7:33
3
@马化腾 It's not a regex search, since the symbols are different. Also, what it can do only slightly overlaps with regexes. It's much more useful for language queries. Someday I'll write a tutorial for the BYU corpora, since the syntax is definitely equally as confusing...
– Laurel
Nov 23 at 9:05
add a comment |
up vote
7
down vote
accepted
up vote
7
down vote
accepted
There's nothing wrong with that sentence. "By" here uses this definition of the word:
[often with verbal noun] Indicating the means of achieving something.
‘malaria can be controlled by attacking the parasite’
Oxford Dictionaries
For this specific definition of "by", it is OK for the entire prepositional phrase to be moved to the beginning of the sentence.
Here's an example:
By doing that you made the whole crime worthless.
Cast in Order of Disappearance
For hundreds (even thousands) of examples you can search . by *ing (the . matches a period and *ing matches words ending in "ing") in COCA (for American English) or BNC (for British English).
answered Nov 23 at 6:54
Laurel
4,55811127
There's nothing wrong with that sentence. "By" here uses this definition of the word:
[often with verbal noun] Indicating the means of achieving something.
‘malaria can be controlled by attacking the parasite’
Oxford Dictionaries
For this specific definition of "by", it is OK for the entire prepositional phrase to be moved to the beginning of the sentence.
Here's an example:
By doing that you made the whole crime worthless.
Cast in Order of Disappearance
For hundreds (even thousands) of examples you can search . by *ing (the . matches a period and *ing matches words ending in "ing") in COCA (for American English) or BNC (for British English).
answered Nov 23 at 6:54
Laurel
4,55811127
answered Nov 23 at 6:54
Laurel
4,55811127
answered Nov 23 at 6:54
Laurel
4,55811127
answered Nov 23 at 6:54
Laurel
4,55811127
4,55811127
1
I have never thought COCA can do regex search, excellent
– 马化腾
Nov 23 at 7:33
3
@马化腾 It's not a regex search, since the symbols are different. Also, what it can do only slightly overlaps with regexes. It's much more useful for language queries. Someday I'll write a tutorial for the BYU corpora, since the syntax is definitely equally as confusing...
– Laurel
Nov 23 at 9:05
add a comment |
1
I have never thought COCA can do regex search, excellent
– 马化腾
Nov 23 at 7:33
3
@马化腾 It's not a regex search, since the symbols are different. Also, what it can do only slightly overlaps with regexes. It's much more useful for language queries. Someday I'll write a tutorial for the BYU corpora, since the syntax is definitely equally as confusing...
– Laurel
Nov 23 at 9:05
1
1
I have never thought COCA can do regex search, excellent
– 马化腾
Nov 23 at 7:33
I have never thought COCA can do regex search, excellent
– 马化腾
Nov 23 at 7:33
3
3
@马化腾 It's not a regex search, since the symbols are different. Also, what it can do only slightly overlaps with regexes. It's much more useful for language queries. Someday I'll write a tutorial for the BYU corpora, since the syntax is definitely equally as confusing...
– Laurel
Nov 23 at 9:05
@马化腾 It's not a regex search, since the symbols are different. Also, what it can do only slightly overlaps with regexes. It's much more useful for language queries. Someday I'll write a tutorial for the BYU corpora, since the syntax is definitely equally as confusing...
– Laurel
Nov 23 at 9:05
add a comment |
up vote
12
down vote
There are numerous grammatical and idiomatic errors in the linked article. It was clearly written by a non-native English speaker. I can't tell you if this is because it is a translation from the Chinese, or for some other reason.
However, this particular sentence is fine. This use of "it" is what is called an "existential" or "dummy" pronoun, and is quite common. Other examples:
A: Thank you for making dinner for us!
B: You're welcome, but I can't take credit. It is my brother who did all the cooking.
It is true that I own a zebra.
Isn't it obvious? It is Professor Plum who committed the murder, in the library, with the lead pipe!
answered Nov 23 at 6:54
Andrew
62.9k573141
add a comment |
up vote
12
down vote
There are numerous grammatical and idiomatic errors in the linked article. It was clearly written by a non-native English speaker. I can't tell you if this is because it is a translation from the Chinese, or for some other reason.
However, this particular sentence is fine. This use of "it" is what is called an "existential" or "dummy" pronoun, and is quite common. Other examples:
A: Thank you for making dinner for us!
B: You're welcome, but I can't take credit. It is my brother who did all the cooking.
It is true that I own a zebra.
Isn't it obvious? It is Professor Plum who committed the murder, in the library, with the lead pipe!
answered Nov 23 at 6:54
Andrew
62.9k573141
add a comment |
up vote
12
down vote
up vote
12
down vote
There are numerous grammatical and idiomatic errors in the linked article. It was clearly written by a non-native English speaker. I can't tell you if this is because it is a translation from the Chinese, or for some other reason.
However, this particular sentence is fine. This use of "it" is what is called an "existential" or "dummy" pronoun, and is quite common. Other examples:
A: Thank you for making dinner for us!
B: You're welcome, but I can't take credit. It is my brother who did all the cooking.
It is true that I own a zebra.
Isn't it obvious? It is Professor Plum who committed the murder, in the library, with the lead pipe!
answered Nov 23 at 6:54
Andrew
62.9k573141
There are numerous grammatical and idiomatic errors in the linked article. It was clearly written by a non-native English speaker. I can't tell you if this is because it is a translation from the Chinese, or for some other reason.
However, this particular sentence is fine. This use of "it" is what is called an "existential" or "dummy" pronoun, and is quite common. Other examples:
A: Thank you for making dinner for us!
B: You're welcome, but I can't take credit. It is my brother who did all the cooking.
It is true that I own a zebra.
Isn't it obvious? It is Professor Plum who committed the murder, in the library, with the lead pipe!
answered Nov 23 at 6:54
Andrew
62.9k573141
edited Nov 23 at 17:46
answered Nov 23 at 6:54
Andrew
62.9k573141
answered Nov 23 at 6:54
Andrew
62.9k573141
answered Nov 23 at 6:54
Andrew
62.9k573141
62.9k573141
add a comment |
add a comment |
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4
What makes you think that this is not legitimate English? Furthermore, where did you get that quote from? It'd be kind of helpful if you could cite your source.
– Michael Rybkin
Nov 23 at 6:18
@MichaelRybkin What is the subject? "By restating these rumors"? "it" refers to "By restating these rumors"?
– 马化腾
Nov 23 at 6:44
@MichaelRybkin Because I feet it a real Chinese what was translated to English.
– 马化腾
Nov 23 at 6:46
Will it be easier for you to understand if it's paraphrased as: By restating these rumors, they are guiding the public opinion, trying to influence people’s voting. ? The structure "It's...who..." is used for the emphasis purpose. Here it emphasized 'they',( not someone else) who are doing those things.
– dan
Nov 23 at 7:52
the linked article reads quite tersely, it doesn't flow. The sentence you mention is fine
– Vorsprung
Nov 23 at 8:35