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Fri 10 Apr, 2015 07:42 am
"European sailors were afraid to sail straight westward into this vast unknown."
Can I write this sentence in the following way?
"European sailors were afraid to sail straight westward into this unknown vast."
Why 'unknown' is written after the word "vast"? If I place 'unknown' before 'vast', what differences will arise?
@Nousher Ahmed,
Isn't vast descriptive of the unknown. Isn't vast the adjective describing the unknown? The Unknown being the noun? Or are you being descriptive of the sailors? I guess you can write it as " Sailors were afraid to sail westward into the vast and unknown?
@argome321,
It is difficult for me to understand your explanation. Would you like to make it easy? I think, I am going to learn something from you.
Thanks a lot.
@Nousher Ahmed,
contact Ragman. Pm him, he's a professional writer. He can help you. He is more than willing to help you.
@argome321,
How will I contact with him?
@Nousher Ahmed,
Do a search on Ragman. Click on his namek From there you should be able to PM him.
@Nousher Ahmed,
Nousher Ahmed wrote:
Why 'unknown' is written after the word "vast"? If I place 'unknown' before 'vast', what differences will arise?
'Vast' is an adjective. "European sailors were afraid to sail straight westward into this unknown vast." I have to ask "Vast what?"
@Nousher Ahmed,
vast unknown = huge unknown area
@McTag,
Quote:vast unknown = huge unknown area
Yes. But, as has been suggested, saying "vast unknown" as opposed to merely "unknown," generally has an added connotation of huge areas of "doubt." There are many uncertainties, and therefore all the more reason to be cautious before entering.
The unknown
unknown
noun
the unknown : a place, situation, or thing that you do not know about or understand
: a person who is not famous or well-known
: something that is not known or not yet discovered
@Nousher Ahmed,
.....unknown vastness. That would work.
@layman,
Well no ****, Sherlock.
(I was answering a grammatical point, and not a philosophical one. But thank you for your contribution.)
On my deathbed I lie
My punishment, I know, awaits.
As I venture out into the unknown vast and dark
My soul trembles within me.
(c) 2015 Contrex
But hey! I can't croak until the Mad Men season finale! That would be too cruel!
@contrex,
Anything to get out of doing the washing up.
@McTag,
Quote:Well no ****, Sherlock.
(I was answering a grammatical point, and not a philosophical one. But thank you for your contribution.)
You seem rather upset. Why is that?
Btw, I don't think the meaning (whether denotational or connotational) of words fall within the category of "grammar" (or "philosophy" for that matter). I was just trying to help with the intended meaning of the phrase "vast unknown," ya know?
@Nousher Ahmed,
Morphing parts of speech are a boon to creative writers and a bane to those learning English as a second language. 'Vast' and 'unknown' are both adjectives; but 'unknown' also has long standing use as a noun.
So, your choice would be between 'vast unknown' and 'unknown vastness'. Either would be grammatically correct.
@neologist,
Quote:So, your choice would be between 'vast unknown' and 'unknown vastness'. Either would be grammatically correct
Grammatically correct, or not, the commonly understood meaning (the "connotation," you might say) would not be the same, would it, Neo?
@layman,
Of course.
I can't think of any situation where I might be tempted to use unknown vastness.
Except when describing the depths of the denizens of a2k, that is.
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