Sentence structure

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WANG CHUN

#483799 Sat, 01 Mar 08 10:57 PM

Hello

I am not sure if i can write two negative sentences in a row in this way. If they are not appropriate, could you help me correct them.

Thank you

1. This demonstration is not intended to help the opposition party condemn the incumbent president for his policies of economic reform. Nor is this demonstration staged by some business leaders meant to overthrow the government.

WANG CHUN

Joined on Thu, Sep 23 2004

Full Member (136)

Negatives, Sentence Structures

Avangi

#483807 Sun, 02 Mar 08 12:05 AM

These are fine. Some would actually combine them, as they stand, into one sentence. Please do a search for "not nor" using the site search function. This has been an active topic lately.

You should probably change "meant to overthrow" to "intent on overthrowing" or some such cure for the confusion about whether the last phrase modifies "leaders" or "demonstration" or "staged." You could eliminate "meant" and it would modify "staged." It depends on your intention.

Avangi

Joined on Mon, Nov 19 2007

Senior Member (3,821)

". . . le plaisir delicieux et toujours nouveau d'une occupation inutile." - Henri de Regnier

Anonymous

#483931 Sun, 02 Mar 08 09:01 AM

To me, it is clear from the context that meant hinges on demonstation. I would not alter the wording, but then I am only a mere incompetent.

Anonymous

Avangi

#484122 Sun, 02 Mar 08 05:45 PM

Hey, we (us) incompetents make the world go 'round.

It's too dang close to "business leaders" for my taste. Sounds like a misplaced modifier. It's also unclear whether it is or is not staged by some business leaders. Read it to somebody and see what they say.

I agree that with a little patience you can reason out the intent, but you shouldn't make the reader do all that work. It's best when syntax and meaning go hand in hand.

Avangi