Which is correct?

[andresalles]

Hi guys,

I´ve just started using the forum and I already think it is a great idea.
Here is my question today, and I do hope you can help me.

Is there any substantial difference between the sentences below?

1. The main aspect considered is the available time of each person.
2. The main aspect considered is the time available of each person.

I don´t like the preposition OF after AVAILABLE in the second sentence.
Personally, I would use FOR. Could anyone send a comment on that?

Thank you very much for you help in advance!!!

[gabber]

You're right - sentence 2) is quite awkward. I might recast it as "The main aspect considered is each person's available time."

[Soup]

Additionally,

• The main aspect (that will be/ to be) considered is each person's availability.

[David L.]

Hm. But I may be available - my availability - but how much time I have available is another issue.


2. The main aspect considered is the time available for each person.
This means, the time that can be devoted to each individual person, as in, the time a GP can set aside for each patient's consultation; the 10 minutes per consultation with an NHS dental hygienist compared with 30 minutes set aside for each person when they are a private patient.
or
how much time the casting director of a show can allow each actor when they audition.

compare
1. The main aspect considered is the time each person has available.
Here, say: the time that each contributor can devote to a project.

[andresalles]

Hi David,
Thanks for your kind eye-opening comments on the two sentences.
Frankly, I don´t think that the issue of 'how much availability' was on my
student´s mind when he built that sentence. What really struck me about it was the possibility of changing the position of the words TIME and AVAILABLE and, as a consequence, creating different (even slightly) meanings.
For instance, when one says (1) ...AVAILABLE TIME..., we have an adjective and a noun, but if we say: (2) ...TIME AVAILABLE... what does AVAILABLE become? A noun complement?
From the first moment, sentence (1) looked like a meaningless and unacceptable one, while (2) made more sense, something your comments clearly corroborate.

So, the question that still remains to me now is: Is there any place for sentence (1) as it was originally posted, below?

The main aspect considered is the available time of each person.

Thank you again!!!

[David L.]

Forgive me, forgive me, but this really annoys me when a thread asks:
Is there any substantial difference between the sentences below?

1. The main aspect considered is the available time of each person.
2. The main aspect considered is the time available of each person.

I don´t like the preposition OF after AVAILABLE in the second sentence.
Personally, I would use FOR. Could anyone send a comment on that?

Posters address these questions...........to then be told:
What really struck me about it was the possibility of changing the position of the words TIME and AVAILABLE and, as a consequence, creating different (even slightly) meanings.
For instance, when one says (1) ...AVAILABLE TIME..., we have an adjective and a noun, but if we say: (2) ...TIME AVAILABLE... what does AVAILABLE become? A noun complement?

Once again, poor posters, off at a tangent.

I've so lost interest in this thread.

[andresalles]

Sorry David,

I just wanted to make things clearer to you, since your reply seemed
more focused on the meaning of the sentences, which is, by the way, my
interest, too. But I also have doubts about how the form (structure) of
the sentences (in this case, the position of the words TIME and AVAILABLE) affect its meaning.That´s it.

Anyway, thanks for your reply.

Cheers,

[Soup]

I don´t like the preposition OF after AVAILABLE in the second sentence. Personally, I would use FOR. Could anyone send a comment on that?

Your instincts are right.

2a. ... the time available of each person.
2b. ... the time made available for each person.

Notice the ellipsis (...) here:

• The main aspect (to be) considered (by e.g., us) is the time (made available by us) for each person.

• The main aspect (to be) considered (by e.g., us) is the time (that we make available) for each person.

[Soup]

... when one says (1) ...AVAILABLE TIME..., we have an adjective and a noun, but if we say: (2) ...TIME AVAILABLE... what does AVAILABLE become? A noun complement?

That's a very good follow-up question. Here's your answer:

(1) available time <adjective + noun>
(2) time available <noun + reduced RC clause>

Ex: Do you have any time (when you are) available?

Let's try that out on your example sentence (2) from post #1:

• The main aspect (to be) considered is the time when each person is OR can be [made] available.

• The main aspect (to be) considered is the time [made] available [by us] for each person.

In short, the phrase time available for each person is fine, but it is ambiguous (i.e., OR). Either each person determines their availability or someone else determines when they should be made available. Do you see the double meaning housed in sentence (2)? The grammar is fine--aside for "of", which should be "for", as you know.

As for sentence (1), it's clearer:

(1) The main aspect (to be) considered is the available time of each person.
=> meaning, each person's availability

Also
(1b) The main aspect (to be) considered is each person's availability.

(1c) The main aspect (to be) considered is (the time) when each person is available.

________________________________
On a professional note, I've been teaching on the site for almost 10 years--believe it or not, and I can tell you that the members do not share David L.'s feelings here:

Once again, poor posters, off at a tangent.

I've so lost interest in this thread.

Please accept our apologies.

Welcome to UsingEnglish.com.

[andresalles]

Soup,

Thank you very much for your help and professionalism!!!

All the best!!!