in

[masterding]

Quote from VOA NEWS:
"We've got to better prepare ourselves to manage these kind of weather events, whether they are droughts, wildfires, heat waves, floods, and that means in terms of emergency management in providing the kind of health assistance that you need in the aftermath of those kinds of events."
I don't understand why did they throw an " in" there?
Thanks.

[SlickVic9000]

(Not a Teacher)

I don't know, but what I do know is that I wouldn't put an "in" there.

[TheParser]

[QUOTE=masterding;839883]Quote from VOA NEWS:


NOT A TEACHER


(1) Great question!

(2) I can only offer a few thoughts until one of our great teachers arrives on the scene.

(3) First, let's do what is helpful in parsing a sentence: SIMPLIFY.

(4) We've got to better prepare ourselves to manage these kinds of weather events

and that means ____ providing the kind of health assistance that you need in the

aftermath of those kinds of events.

(5) Do you feel that a preposition is needed in the blank space?

(6) If you do, what should the preposition be?

(a) The VOA writer chose "in."

(b) I once read that many ordinary native speakers such as I get confused about the

proper use of two prepositions followed by an -ing word. Those two prepositions are

"in" and "by."

(7) I am not claiming that this is the correct answer. But consider:

We've got to better prepare ourselves.

How?

By providing ....

(8) Thanks for another

great question.

[masterding]

(4) We've got to better prepare ourselves to manage these kinds of weather events

and that means ____ providing the kind of health assistance that you need in the

aftermath of those kinds of events.

Thanks, parser! You're always so helpful. The sentence looks much easier to read and understand, after you parsed it, you're really good at it, I wonder if that's how you got the name" theparser".
Ok, let's look at the simplied version of the sentence.
For me, I'll still choose not to use a prepostion, or rephrase it:
"that means we have to provide the kind of health assistance that is needed in the aftermath of those kinds of events. "
I'd like to have teachers opinion on this.
Thanks.

[TheParser]

[QUOTE=masterding;840306]
I'd like to have teachers opinion on this.


Me, too!

[TheParser]

[QUOTE=masterding;839883]


NOT A TEACHER


Masterding,


(1) Sadly, none of our wonderful teachers has/have answered you.

(2) I was able, however, to communicate with two ladies who give advice about

good English to international students.

(3) Congratulations! They agree with you: they feel that the "in" is not needed.

[Barb_D]

Let's not forget that when people speak, they usually are not speaking prepared words. When you speak, you change the course of what you're about to say, or repeat parts of what you alread have said, or in other ways produce ungrammatical phrasing that you would not produce if you had time to write it out ahead of time.

[TheParser]

Let's not forget that when people speak, they usually are not speaking prepared words. When you speak, you change the course of what you're about to say, or repeat parts of what you alread have said, or in other ways produce ungrammatical phrasing that you would not produce if you had time to write it out ahead of time.

NOT A TEACHER


(1) Exactly!

(2) I imagine that the VOA report was quoting someone who did not have time to

polish his English.

[TheParser]

[QUOTE=masterding;839883]


NOT A TEACHER


Masterding,

I have exciting news for you and me.

I have just communicated on the Web with someone who is an outstanding teacher

to international students. She says:

(a) You are correct: The preposition "in" is NOT correct. She agrees with you that NO preposition is needed.

(b) I am correct, too. If one insists on a preposition, she says it should be "by."

Well, three outstanding teachers say that you are correct: the preposition is

wrong. As the moderator reminded us, native speakers often make "mistakes"

when they are talking without having already prepared their words. I guess that

it happens in all languages.

Thanks for your great question. I learned a lot.