Why is this sentence syntactically correct?
I read this sentence on my textbook: 「The first presents a problem a response to which the argument assesses.」
I know it is definitely a correct sentence since a teacher has used this sentence as an example in his class. But I still think there is something wrong. Why can a noun be followed directly by a noun? Why shouldn't there be a comma between 'a problem' and 'a response'? Even if there is a comma there, I still think the sentence doesn't make any sense. Because the connection between the two noun cannot be shown. So then, why is this sentence syntactically correct? Thanks a lot!!!!!!
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Corrections · 6
2
Why is this sentence syntactically correct?
「The first presents a problem a response to which the argument assesses.」What a horrible sentence. I do not have an answer that will please you, but let me try to work it out anyway.
There appear to be 4 entities: first, problem, response, argument.
'first' is usually an adjective so I will add a noun for clarity. I would add 3 commas. 'to which' is just a prepositional phrase.
The first [thing] presents a problem , a response , to which , the argument assesses.
'to which' is referring to the problem
The first [thing] presents a problem , a response (to the problem) the argument assesses.
This sounds like Yoda speaking, putting the object (response) before the subject and verb.
--> for fun, google "Yoda speak generator"
Note that with a comma after problem, you have two complete sentences.
And, the argument (whatever that is) assesses the response.
Therefore, this rearrangement, with semicolon to separate 2 sentences, makes a lot more sense to me:
The first [thing] presents a problem; the argument assesses the response to the problem.
Basically, the grammar is correct because English doesn't have that many grammar rules, and some people (especially professors, lawyers) like to write in turgid minimalist styles to make them sound smarter than you.
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You have not provided us with the full complete actual sentence that is used in law training. Please see the actual sentence below, in red text. The sentence is one of a choice of four that law students or academics have to discuss and debate and give answers and responses to in the context of the law.
Kindly note the sentences is in only two parts separated very loosely by a semicolon after (to which the argument assesses).
You will not receive correct answers if you do not supply us with the full context but instead truncate sentences and lead the correctors here to believe you have supplied a full complete sentence which you have not.
It is generally beyond the scope of italki because it is law writing, which countries law I do not know. Google search on the use of semi colons.
THE sentence you should have posted.
The first presents a problem a response to which the argument assesses; the second is the judgment reached by that assessment.
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Yes, many people would agree that this is poorly punctuated and that a comma should have been used. At college, the English department would not give it good marks as it is. Even with a comma, it would be quite clumsy, possibly because of an (unnecessary) effort to make room for an additional following clause all in the same sentence. To accommodate John's comment and expansion below, then a semicolon would follow at the end of this and before the additional clause. But punctuation is often regarded as a matter of style rather than grammar, and different approaches are in use in English. Still, this is not a style to copy :)
It could perhaps have been written as : "The first presents a problem, and assesses a response to it. The second is ..." https://www.thepunctuationguide.com/style.html
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