re: Need Comments? page 2

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re: Need Comments? page 2

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(1) Without a computer, a lot of people nowadays feel uneasy, irritated, which is a symptom of addiction.

(2) With their computer disconnected, a lot of people nowadays feel uneasy, irritated, which is a symptom of addiction.

(3 ) Without using a computer, a lot of people nowadays feel uneasy, irritated, which is a symptom of addiction.
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(3) is the sentence written by a friend of mine, and he is asking me if it works. IMO, (3) is weird but I cannot explain well why; it just doesn't feel right.

Well, maybe I'm wrong and there is nothing wrong in the sentence (3) . If so, then that's fine.

Could anybody tell me if it works or not, and if not, then why?

Oct 08 2004 16:09:59

Comments (Page 2)

I just wanted to tell you that you spelt "without" wrong. You spelt it as "Witout".

I just wanted to tell you that

Who's Jim? Because your comments? I don't get them.

Thanks for listening [

]

Oct 13 2004 02:58:53

There is probably more than one paraphrase of "without --ing". The best paraphrase will depend on the specific concepts (words) in the sentence.

In the case of "without using X, we Y-ed" the connotation is that we would normally use X to help us to do Y.

"Without using a computer, a lot of people feel uneasy ...." does not seem to me to mean the same thing as "If they don't use a computer, a lot of people feel uneasy." The first is strange somehow and the second one makes more sense. Here's why:

"Without using a computer ..." is closer to "Without using a computer to help them (to feel uneasy)

, a lot of people feel uneasy ...."

"If they don't use a computer ... " is closer to "If (or when) they don't have the use of (or access to) a computer, a lot of people feel uneasy ...." or "If they lack (access to) a computer, ...." or "Without a computer ..." = "Lacking a computer ..."

True, there is an alternate reading of "without using a computer" which is, as you say, "If they don't use a computer", but this is not the interpretation that comes to mind first upon reading the sentence.

Oct 13 2004 05:21:21

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I see. Thank you.

Well, after reading your reply, now I'm wonderingwhat exactly it is that makes "without ...ing" semantically equivalent to "if not" in one case and what doesn't in another...

Oct 13 2004 18:59:26

I'm wondering the same thing, but I have no answer.

Oct 14 2004 06:16:17

Thank you anyway, Jim. I appreciate your help, always

Oct 14 2004 09:08:51

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In the phrase “Without a computer, a lot of people nowadays feel uneasy, irritated, which is a symptom of addiction.”, it was recommended to change the ending for "…uneasy and irritated, which are symptoms..."
I wonder if the words “which is a symptom” in the initial version couldn’t be attributed to the principal clause as a whole, that is to the very fact of feeling uneasy and irritated rather than to the two separate characteristics “uneasy” and “irritated”. If they could, then using singular (“which is a symptom”) would be all right here, wouldn’t it? And no substitution would be necessary.

Oct 14 2004 11:25:19

I would agree with Anattempt.

'Which' in the amended version refers back to a single state, 'feeling uneasy and irritated', and so should take a verb in the singular.

It might even be possible to argue that 'which' in this case doesn't have a proper antecedent. But it seems to be idiomatic.

'When not using a computer', perhaps.

Oct 14 2004 12:17:29

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I just wanted to tell you that you spelt "without" wrong. You spelt it as "Witout".

I just wanted to tell you that

Who's Jim? Because your comments? I don't get them.

Thanks for listening []
There is probably more than one paraphrase of "without --ing". The best paraphrase will depend on the specific concepts (words) in the sentence.

In the case of "without using X, we Y-ed" the connotation is that we would normally use X to help us to do Y.

"Without using a computer, a lot of people feel uneasy ...." does not seem to me to mean the same thing as "If they don't use a computer, a lot of people feel uneasy." The first is strange somehow and the second one makes more sense. Here's why:

"Without using a computer ..." is closer to "Without using a computer to help them (to feel uneasy) , a lot of people feel uneasy ...."

"If they don't use a computer ... " is closer to "If (or when) they don't have the use of (or access to) a computer, a lot of people feel uneasy ...." or "If they lack (access to) a computer, ...." or "Without a computer ..." = "Lacking a computer ..."

True, there is an alternate reading of "without using a computer" which is, as you say, "If they don't use a computer", but this is not the interpretation that comes to mind first upon reading the sentence.
I see. Thank you.

Well, after reading your reply, now I'm wonderingwhat exactly it is that makes "without ...ing" semantically equivalent to "if not" in one case and what doesn't in another...
In the phrase “Without a computer, a lot of people nowadays feel uneasy, irritated, which is a symptom of addiction.”, it was recommended to change the ending for "…uneasy and irritated, which are symptoms..."
I wonder if the words “which is a symptom” in the initial version couldn’t be attributed to the principal clause as a whole, that is to the very fact of feeling uneasy and irritated rather than to the two separate characteristics “uneasy” and “irritated”. If they could, then using singular (“which is a symptom”) would be all right here, wouldn’t it? And no substitution would be necessary.
I would agree with Anattempt.

'Which' in the amended version refers back to a single state, 'feeling uneasy and irritated', and so should take a verb in the singular.

It might even be possible to argue that 'which' in this case doesn't have a proper antecedent. But it seems to be idiomatic.

'When not using a computer', perhaps.

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