Jun 8, 2012 00:17
11 yrs ago
2 viewers *
English term
which allowed or allowing
English
Other
Linguistics
relative clause or present participle
Hello there!
I have a grammar/style issue. ( the relative clause or the present participle)
As regards grammar, are these two sentences ok? which is better?
1- This group held on to power through electoral fraud, which allowed them to occupy the highest positions regarding politics, economy and military,
or
2- This group held on to power through electoral fraud, allowing them to occupy the highest positions regarding politics, economy and military.
Do you know where I can read something about this grammar point!!
Thanks a lot
SQ
I have a grammar/style issue. ( the relative clause or the present participle)
As regards grammar, are these two sentences ok? which is better?
1- This group held on to power through electoral fraud, which allowed them to occupy the highest positions regarding politics, economy and military,
or
2- This group held on to power through electoral fraud, allowing them to occupy the highest positions regarding politics, economy and military.
Do you know where I can read something about this grammar point!!
Thanks a lot
SQ
Responses
| 4 +4 | slight change would be better |
Lubosh Hanuska
|
| 4 +4 | Either is fine |
Daniel Weston
|
Responses
+4
29 mins
Lubosh Hanuska
Australia
Australia
Native in English
&
English
Australia
professional website translations
Native in: English 
, Slovak
Works in: Slovak to English, Czech to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
slight change would be better
Both versions you have are grammatically correct. I would recommend slight change in wording to make it sound better. It would also emphasise the issue of "electoral fraud" as I think that is the author's intention. See sentence below:
Example sentence:
Electoral fraud kept this group in power, allowing them to occupy the highest positions in politics, economy and military.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Daniel Weston
21 mins
|
| agree |
EnglishEditor
3 hrs
|
| agree |
Oliver Lawrence
: This is better, because it keeps us away from dangling modifier territory (the subject of 'allowing' is the subject from the first clause, i.e. 'electoral fraud')
6 hrs
|
| agree |
katsy
: I agree with Oliver; yr suggestion makes much clearer what the subject of 'allowing' is.
7 hrs
|
| neutral |
David Moore (X)
: ...as to Daniel...
12 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "thanks!!!"
+4
4 mins
Daniel Weston
United States
United States
Native in English
&
English
United States
Communication: one link at a time
Native in: English (Variant: US) 
Works in: French to English, English
Either is fine
I believe it is a more a matter of style than grammar. Each is correct grammar.
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Note added at 6 mins (2012-06-08 00:24:09 GMT)
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Sorry - I meant to say "each is grammatically correct"
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Note added at 6 mins (2012-06-08 00:24:09 GMT)
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Sorry - I meant to say "each is grammatically correct"
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Lubosh Hanuska
20 mins
|
| agree |
EnglishEditor
4 hrs
|
| agree |
Jim Tucker (X)
5 hrs
|
| neutral |
David Moore (X)
: "...the group, allowing IT..."
12 hrs
|
|
Yes, you are correct "it" would refer to the group which would be singular. However, the question was whether not not you could use "allowed" or allowing"
|
|
| agree |
Effie Simiakaki (X)
23 hrs
|
Discussion
Your issue has to do with grammar as well as style; both of your translations, (in your question), have the ''telltale signs'' of how a Spaniard or a Portuguese etc, would translate these sentences into English. In other words derived from Spanish influence on you_your mother tongue, I presume.
What you need to do is to use the English progressive form of the verb. This will improve both style and grammar. For instance in your sentences:
I have a grammar/style issue change to: I am having a grammar/style issue. (I am having - I am suffering, fighting etc,. (progressive form)
As regards grammar, are these...? - regarding grammar...? Or, in regard to grammar...?
Also watch out for the definite article the sometimes needs to be used in English for the sentences to make sense. See below.
This group held on to power through electoral fraud, (which allowed) allowing them to occupy the highest positions regarding politics, the economy and the military,
I'd suggest "...fraud, allowing its members to..."
As it stands, you cannot be certain that "them" refers to the members of that group - it could so easily refer back to a previous subject...