Wednesday, August 20, 2014

adjectives - How to use noun + verb + (adj. denoting "other") + adj. + pl. noun?




Is it possible to say Noun + verb + (adj. denoting "other") + adj. + pl. noun without applying the adjective to the first noun? e.g.



The Tyrannosaurus rex ate the other nice dinosaurs.


This implies that the T. rex is also nice. Is there a way to do this without suggesting that? My guess would be something like:



The Tyrannosaurus rex ate the other, nice dinosaurs.



Inserting a comma. Is this correct, and if not, is there a way to do this?


Answer



Your answer is found in your desire to use an adjective like "other," or denoting "other." By definition, it includes the subject noun in the group, which means the adjective applied to the object noun will naturally be assumed to apply to the subject noun as well. If you really need to let the reader know that the group of Triceratops whom T. Rex ate for lunch were nice, a subordinate clause, viz. "ate the other dinosaurs, who were nice," is probably your best bet. Although, looking at that, now you have a problem deciding if Triceratops Tartar tasted "nice" or if they were actually kind, good dinosaurs.


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