Grammar doubts

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Anonymous  #510444  Tue, 06 May 08 04:14 PM

(1) This seems to be a perennial problem, that we cannot live without bloodshed, without going after our enemies.

 

Comma usage, please check.

 

(2) But the basic drive is to get food and to get the mating available. And it is in this here that Jainas perceive what kinds of passions are working.

 

Can "And it is in this here" be rephrased fro clarity? Please rephrase.

 

(3) And it is in this way that Jainism began, with a large group of mendicants who decided, who left the household life, left all the activities, subsisted on the least possible, amount needed for food and water and shelter, and led a very frugal life, sustained by the laypeople who were able to support them.

 

Do we need comma before amount? Please advise.

 

(4) But nowadays these are asked and they must perforce find answers to that.

 

Is the usage "perforce find" ok? Please check.

 

(5) This is the tale of an elephant, who, in his very next rebirth, was reborn as Prince Mega and become an eminent Jaina monk under Mahavira. And Mahavira is telling the past story of this particular man:

 

become or became? Please advise.

 

  
Clive  #510474  Tue, 06 May 08 05:06 PM

Hi,

(1) This seems to be a perennial problem, that we cannot live without bloodshed, without going after our enemies.

 

Comma usage, please check. OK

 

(2) But the basic drive is to get food and to get the mating available. And it is in this here that Jainas perceive what kinds of passions are working.

 

Can "And it is in this here" be rephrased fro clarity? Please rephrase.

Some people say you shouldn't start a sentence with 'but', or with 'and'. Why not join the two sentences, with a comma?

'To get the mating available' is also a clumsy expression. Say it another way. Actually, it all sounds a bit awkward. Was it written by a non-native speaker? 

(3) And it is in this way that Jainism began, with a large group of mendicants who decided, who left the household life, left all the activities, subsisted on the least possible, amount needed for food and water and shelter, and led a very frugal life, sustained by the laypeople who were able to support them.

  Do we need comma before amount? Please advise. No. Remove it.

 

(4) But nowadays these are asked and they must perforce find answers to that.

 

Is the usage "perforce find" ok? Please check. Yes. It's a literary kind of phrase. Is the singular  'that' intended to refer to the plural 'these'? 

 

(5) This is the tale of an elephant who, in his very next rebirth, was reborn as Prince Mega and become an eminent Jaina monk under Mahavira. And Mahavira is telling the past story of this particular man:

 

become or became? Please advise Became.

Best wishes, Clive

  
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