ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: based on

MrPedantic — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 23:39:54 GMT

I would agree with GG; it's usefully elliptical, but may bring the reader up short. You could replace it with "on the basis of".

Best wishes,

MrP

Re: based on

Grammar Geek — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 17:37:23 GMT

That would be difficult. In the passive, the builders are not mentioned, but it is the builders who used the picture as a guide - so you can't assign "using the picture as a guide" to unmentioned builders.

The picture was used as a guide when the temple was rebuilt. I guess that works - the unnamed builders both used the picture and built the temple.

Re: based on

Taka — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 16:01:44 GMT

Grammar Geek

To avoid the ambuiguity, rephrase slightly and get rid of "based on": Using the picture as a guide, they rebuilt ...

GG, how would you rephrase the passive version 'The temple was rebuilt' with the phrase 'the picture as a guide'?

Re: based on

Grammar Geek — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 13:38:49 GMT

It does not belong in formal writing, but it's used in conversation all the time.

Based on the trail of blood, the killer went through the kitchen and...

Based on your appearance, you had a close encounter with a mud puddle.

These stand for the internal speculation, such as:

Based on the trail of blood, it appears that the killer went through the kitchen and...

Based on your appearance, I'm guessing you had a close encounter with a mud puddle.

In careful writing, it would be something like "The tail of blood indicates that..." or "Your appearance suggestions..." or "This picture makes it clear that..."

To avoid the ambuiguity, rephrase slightly and get rid of "based on": Using the picture as a guide, they rebuilt ...

Re: based on

Taka — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 05:06:17 GMT

MrPedantic
I would call "based on" a dangler, here:

Is that dangling modification considered as natural, as 'speaking of X' or 'considering X'? Or do you think it should be consiered as grammatically undesirable, or even wrong?

Re: based on

MrPedantic — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 23:48:39 GMT

I would call "based on" a dangler, here: it modifies a notion that is only implicit in the preceding clause.

MrP

Re: based on

Clive — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 21:06:25 GMT

Hi,
The phrase seems adverbial to me, modifying 'rebuilt / was rebuilt'.

Clive

Re: based on

Taka — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 16:26:40 GMT

Anyone?

Re: based on

Taka — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 03:20:53 GMT

So 'based on' can be used to modify the entire following sentence or in front?

Re: based on

Grammar Geek — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:10:31 GMT

As I read it, the opinion that the temple was rebuilt was based on the photograph.

Using this old photograph as a guide to my opinion, I believe that they completely rebuilt the temple.

I suppose it could mean that the people used an old photograph as their guide to what the temple should look like as they rebuilt it.

Re: based on

Taka — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:14:49 GMT

OK. So from the grammatical point of view, what does those 'based on' modify? The temple?

Re: based on

nona the brit — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:03:37 GMT

yes

based on

Taka — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:00:24 GMT

Is this 'based on' sound OK in the sentence?

People at the time completely rebuilt the temple, based on an old photograph./The temple was completely rebuilt, based on an old photograph.