
05-Jun-2004, 20:21
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 | VIP Member | | Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 6,073
Member Type: Academic | |
Re: Married or otherwise? Quote: |
Originally Posted by Casiopea Quote: |
Originally Posted by Eway In this sentence:
Johnson lived a rock-and-roll lifestyle and was no stranger to liquor, gambling and women - married or otherwise.
Does "married or otherwise" refer to "women" or Johnson? | I agree with Mike's response. If 'married and otherwise' were modifying 'Johnson', then it would be in closer proximity to that noun.
Johnson lives a rock-and-roll lifestyle and was no stranger--married or otherwise--to liquor, gambling and women.
The writer place 'married or otherwise' directly after 'women' in order to modify 'women' with extra information. In other words,
Johnson was no stranger to married women.
In short, the writer is suggesting that a person (i.e. Johnson) who drinks, gambles, and dates married women lacks morals). | Excellent answer! 8) |