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01-Dec-2006, 08:53
| | Member | | Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 131
| |  double
A survey by the National Council of Churches showed that in 1986 there were 20736 female ministers, almost 9 percent of the nation's clergy, double the figure for 1977.
i'm a bit confused by the "double the figure for 1977."
is the double an adjective?
thanks |
01-Dec-2006, 15:27
|  | Moderator | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Country: England (South East)
Posts: 7,648
Current Location: England (South East) First Language: English Member Type: English Teacher | | Re: double
Quote:
Originally Posted by mengta  A survey by the National Council of Churches showed that in 1986 there were 20736 female ministers, almost 9 percent of the nation's clergy, double the figure for 1977.
i'm a bit confused by the "double the figure for 1977."
is the double an adjective?
thanks | It's confusing because it's ambiguous. Either there were 10,368 female ministers in 1977 (so that the 1986 figure is twice that), or the percentage of female ministers in 1977 was only 4½ of the nation's clergy (so that the 1988 figure is twice that).
As to the part of speech, I'm not sure. 'Double the figure' = 'the figure after it's been doubled'; and 'after it's been doubled' (I'd say - though parsing isn't my strong point) is an adjectival phrase; so I think 'double' there is some kind of determiner. Wait for a more authoritative answer - I know I shall. 
b |
02-Dec-2006, 08:20
|  | VIP Member | | Join Date: Nov 2002 Country: USA
Posts: 6,089
Current Location: New York First Language: American English Member Type: Academic | | Re: double
Quote:
Originally Posted by mengta A survey by the National Council of Churches showed that in 1986 there were 20736 female ministers, almost 9 percent of the nation's clergy, double the figure for 1977.
i'm a bit confused by the "double the figure for 1977."
is the double an adjective?
thanks | Yes, "double" is an adjective. I agree with BobK that the sentence can be confusing. As it is written, "double" applies to 9%. |
02-Dec-2006, 20:45
|  | Moderator | | Join Date: Feb 2003 Country: USA
Posts: 15,527
Current Location: North Carolina First Language: English Member Type: Other | |  Re: double
Quote:
Originally Posted by mengta A survey by the National Council of Churches showed that in 1986 there were 20736 female ministers, almost 9 percent of the nation's clergy, double the figure for 1977.
i'm a bit confused by the "double the figure for 1977."
is the double an adjective? |
IMO, the sentence would be improved by the use of parentheses, thus: A survey by the National Council of Churches showed that in 1986 there were 20,736 female ministers (almost 9 percent of the nation's clergy), double the figure for 1977. ~R |
02-Dec-2006, 22:35
| | VIP Member | | Join Date: Nov 2002 Country: USA
Posts: 6,089
Current Location: New York First Language: American English Member Type: Academic | | Re: double
Quote:
Originally Posted by RonBee IMO, the sentence would be improved by the use of parentheses, thus: A survey by the National Council of Churches showed that in 1986 there were 20,736 female ministers (almost 9 percent of the nation's clergy), double the figure for 1977. ~R | Yes, very good.  |
02-Dec-2006, 22:45
| | Senior Member | | Join Date: Jul 2005 Country: Bremen - Germany
Posts: 1,162
Current Location: Germany First Language: English Member Type: Student or Learner | | Re: double
Quote:
Originally Posted by mengta A survey by the National Council of Churches showed that in 1986 there were 20736 female ministers, almost 9 percent of the nation's clergy, double the figure for 1977.
i'm a bit confused by the "double the figure for 1977."
is the double an adjective?
thanks | "Double the figure" is literal translation into English (language interference). I don't know where you are from but I know that German's often make this mistake. |
03-Dec-2006, 02:44
| | VIP Member | | Join Date: Nov 2002 Country: USA
Posts: 6,089
Current Location: New York First Language: American English Member Type: Academic | | Re: double
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr. Jamshid Ibrahim "Double the figure" is literal translation into English (language interference). I don't know where you are from but I know that German's often make this mistake. | What's wrong with "double the figure"? |
03-Dec-2006, 04:24
| | Moderator | | Join Date: Feb 2003 Country: USA
Posts: 15,527
Current Location: North Carolina First Language: English Member Type: Other | | Re: double
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr. Jamshid Ibrahim "Double the figure" is literal translation into English (language interference). I don't know where you are from but I know that German's often make this mistake. | That's perfectly acceptable English. (German s)  |
03-Dec-2006, 08:06
| | Senior Member | | Join Date: Jul 2005 Country: Bremen - Germany
Posts: 1,162
Current Location: Germany First Language: English Member Type: Student or Learner | | Re: double
Quote:
Originally Posted by RonBee That's perfectly acceptable English. (German s) | I mean if it is used in the sense twice as much. |
03-Dec-2006, 13:47
| | VIP Member | | Join Date: Nov 2002 Country: USA
Posts: 6,089
Current Location: New York First Language: American English Member Type: Academic | | Re: double
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr. Jamshid Ibrahim I mean if it is used in the sense twice as much. | I'm still confused.
If there were 10,368 female ministers in 1977, then the 1986 figure was double or twice as much. | |
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