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Fri 9 Sep, 2016 03:36 pm
Hi,
I'm trying to determine which is more grammatically correct or would generally be considered more appropriate:
The student ensures the area remains easy to work by relocating or disposing of any extra excavated material OR
The student relocates or disposes of any extra excavated material to ensure the area remains easy to work
More importantly, I'm trying to determine what would be easiest to understand and would love to hear your opinion, thanks
@autopilotblues,
Auto I have a feeling it somehow depends on context
Cis isn't it the "extra" that's so puzzling
@cicerone imposter,
Yes it does - "stuff that was dug out" - makes perfect sense.
@autopilotblues,
autopilotblues wrote:More importantly, I'm trying to determine what would be easiest to understand and would love to hear your opinion, thanks
For a native speaker, both are equally and easily comprehensible. You are over thinking this.
@contrex,
You're probably right. I'm having difficulty with the sentence. My problem.
Dale also has a good point.
I don't know about other locales, but in Britain, 'spoil' is a technical term for excavated material.
@contrex,
I think it's 'spoil' after it's excavated, and overburden before you start messing with it.
Take out the "of"
The student ensures the area remains easy to work by relocating or disposing any extra excavated material.
I wouldn't take out the "of." I assume you're using it to mean getting rid of the excavated material, not arranging them.
@autopilotblues,
Both are fine.
I find the second version somewhat easier to understand.
@contrex,
Yes, to Contrex's post. Both are fine. I might have liked the second one a little bit better as easier for me to grasp the point.
@ossobucotemp,
Hah, somehow I didn't see your post, ehBeth, and mine looks like a copy of yours. Reminds me of the bot-like person who gives grammar advice by repeating what others said.
No, no, I deny it!
Hi guys, it wasn't so much the individual words I had a problem with but whether the action of "relocating and disposing" should go before the outcome of "the area remaining clean" or vice versa.
I'm glad to hear the overall consensus that both seem appropriate and I think that Contrex might be right in saying that I'm over thinking it. However, since a couple of people specifically preferred the second I'm going to go with that. Thanks to all!
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