« first day (1674 days earlier)      last day (1861 days later) » 

Anonymous
08:37
@AIQ Ooh, I'm not so sure about that.
Anonymous
The description of for the purpose of V-ing seems okay. Those are "adjuncts of purpose", optional phrases which tell the listener the reason for an action.
Anonymous
You can usually replace it with to V or in order to V, because those are other ways to phrase adjuncts of purpose.
Anonymous
We can contrast this with for the purpose(s) of NP, which can be singular or plural.
Anonymous
And I think they're probably right that it can usually be replaced with for NP in this case.
Anonymous
But I don't think you can say that with singular purpose it's always followed by V-ing and with plural purposes it's always followed by a noun phrase.
Anonymous
08:45
The other problem with the description is that it doesn't tell you what either phrase means, which would seem to be the key distinction.
skullpatrol
skullpatrol
would that make a good question here?
or elu
Anonymous
09:15
Sure. I was thinking that.
Anonymous
I mean, clearly my chat messages here don't amount to a complete answer . . .
skullpatrol
skullpatrol
if the question was suitably restricted, it could be very helpful :-)
AIQ
AIQ
@skullpatrol In terms of restricting it, what did you have in mind?
skullpatrol
skullpatrol
09:37
::battery is running low::
gotta run, cya

« first day (1674 days earlier)      last day (1861 days later) »