Comma

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Anonymous

#367743 Sun, 20 May 07 01:21 AM

Is the following with or without a comma after possible

Making possible the impossible

Anonymous

Commas

Clive

#367750 Sun, 20 May 07 01:55 AM

Hi,

Is the following with or without a comma after possible

Making possible the impossible

Without.

Clive

Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004

Canada

Veteran Member (23,116)

El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

Commas

Peaceblinkfriend

#367777 Sun, 20 May 07 04:25 AM

Hi anonymous

I think the more common statement is 'making the impossible possible'.

Ernest

Peaceblinkfriend

Joined on Wed, May 9 2007

Australia

Contributing Member (1,901)

Cool Breeze

#367882 Sun, 20 May 07 10:03 AM

Peaceblinkfriend wrote:

I think the more common statement is 'making the impossible possible'.

Good point, Peaceblinkfriend. The reason is the fact that in English the object (the impossible) is preferably immediately after the verb. This is because there are no inflections for nouns and adjectives used as objects of verbs and consequently ambiguity may result if the rigid word order is not adhered to.

In my native language it is possible to say John loves Mary or Mary loves John and the meaning is unchanged if the same inflected forms are used in both sentences.

CB

Cool Breeze

Joined on Fri, Apr 7 2006

Helsinki, Finland

Senior Member (3,126)

The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.- Mark Twain

Verbs, Nouns, Word Order, Inflections

Peaceblinkfriend

#367888 Sun, 20 May 07 10:26 AM

Hi Cool Breeze,

I think I understand what you mean.
Basically, you are say that it is not that clear to say 'making the impossible possible' right ? Would it help if I add a comma between the words 'impossible' and 'possible' ?

So, 'making possible the impossible' means, lets say, making something impossible to happen possible . Am I correct?

Thanks. Stick out tongue [:P]

Ernest

Peaceblinkfriend

Commas

Anonymous

#367907 Sun, 20 May 07 11:15 AM

It is a logically imposible statement and looks clunky no matter what word arrangement is employed.

It is like the old saw about the immoveable object and the irresistable force. Both concepts shoud not exist in the same sentence.

Stannum

Anonymous

Cool Breeze

#367918 Sun, 20 May 07 11:38 AM

Peaceblinkfriend wrote:
Hi Cool Breeze,

Would it help if I add a comma between the words 'impossible' and 'possible' ?

So, 'making possible the impossible' means, lets say, making something impossible to happen possible . Am I correct?

Absolutely no comma! The sentence is unambiguous as it is. The impossible is an elegant way to say impossible things and because it is the object of the verb in the sentence, it's a good idea to have it right after the verb. As for the meaning of the sentence, you are correct. Smile [:)]

Cool Breeze

Verbs, Commas

Peaceblinkfriend

#367928 Sun, 20 May 07 12:04 PM

Sorry, but I'm a bit confused here. Embarrassed [:$]

Firstly, I could only say 'making possible the impossible'. I could not say 'making the impossible possible'. Am I correct?
Secondly, what is verb in the first expression? What is the part of speech for the word 'possible'?

Thank you very much for your help, Cool Breeze.

Ernest

Peaceblinkfriend

Verbs, Expressions

Cool Breeze

#367938 Sun, 20 May 07 12:18 PM

1. Making the impossible possible
2. Making possible the impossible

Both are good English and mean the same thing. No. 1 may be more common because in it the object is immediately after the verb - or the gerund, as there is no finite verb. Possible is an adjective.

CB

Cool Breeze

Verbs, Gerunds

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