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New2grammar

#540228 Sat, 12 Jul 08 01:07 AM

Further negotiations with Zimbabwe are delayed until Friday, (let's say I want to add something, what's the right transition) until the ambassador for Kenya comes back from the US.

Is the above correct?
Thanks.

New2grammar

Joined on Tue, Nov 21 2006

Veteran Member (7,670)

Who wants to go sailing around the world with me?

CalifJim

#540244 Sat, 12 Jul 08 01:31 AM

You don't want two until clauses like that, unless you insert that is, meaning they both refer to the same time.

delayed until Friday.

delayed until the ambassador returns.

delayed until Friday, that is, until the ambassador returns.

delayed until the ambassador returns on Friday.

But not: delayed until Friday until the ambassador returns.

CalifJim

Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004

California

Veteran Member (16,975)

"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche

Clauses

New2grammar

#540252 Sat, 12 Jul 08 01:41 AM

Is it acceptable in casual speech, at least?

New2grammar

Yoong Liat

#541948 Tue, 15 Jul 08 07:22 PM

No.

Yoong Liat

Joined on Mon, Sep 4 2006

Singapore

Veteran Member (6,010)

Yoong Liat

CalifJim

#541951 Tue, 15 Jul 08 07:29 PM

New2grammar
Is it acceptable in casual speech, at least?

Only if there's a fairly long pause before the second until clause. The pause will be interpreted as that is.

CalifJim

Clauses, Grammar

New2grammar

#541957 Tue, 15 Jul 08 07:36 PM

CalifJim
Only if there's a fairly long pause before the second until clause. The pause will be interpreted as that is.

That's what I thought because the reporter did that. However, when I transcribed the line I got misinterpreted. I guess I didn't use the right punctuation. How do you represent a long pause? a dash or three dots.

Thanks.

New2grammar

Clauses, Punctuation