finds the adolescent unprepared to meet it

Status
Not open for further replies.

keannu

VIP Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Korean
Home Country
South Korea
Current Location
South Korea
This "finds the adolescent unprepared to meet it"'s subject is not a person but a thing. Is this kind of expression normal or literate? Why does a subject of a thing accompany "find" and what does it mean?

st243
ex)Youth is a time of conflict...since the adolescent at one and the same time needs both a feeling of security and an opportunity for self-expression and self-determination. Too much and too suddenly gained liberty finds the adolescent unprepared to meet it; then he may become prey to undesirable influences...
 
Last edited:

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland
This "finds the adolescent unprepared to meet it"'s subject is not a person but a thing. Is this kind of expression normal or literate? Why is a subject of a thing accompany "find" and what does it mean?

st243
ex)Youth is a time of conflict...since the adolescent at one and the same time needs both a feeling of security and an opportunity for self-expression and self-determination. Too much and too suddenly gained liberty finds the adolescent unprepared to meet it; then he may become prey to undesirable influences...

It's neither normal nor literate IMO.
 

keannu

VIP Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Korean
Home Country
South Korea
Current Location
South Korea
Can you explain further for my question?
 

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland
Can you explain further for my question?
"Too much and too suddenly gained liberty finds the adolescent unprepared to meet it; then he may become prey to undesirable influences..."
In my opinion it is poorly written, the idea is poorly expressed. Where did you find it?
 

keannu

VIP Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Korean
Home Country
South Korea
Current Location
South Korea
From an entrace exam material. I don't know its original source.
 

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
It seems to me rather old-fashioned and the word order is unusual but I don't have too much of a problem with it.

Adolescents sometimes find themselves with a lot of liberty very suddenly and, in many cases, they are not sufficiently prepared to deal with it.

"The adolescent" is used to represent all adolescents.
 

charliedeut

VIP Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Spanish
Home Country
Spain
Current Location
Spain
It seems to me rather old-fashioned [...]but I don't have too much of a problem with it.

Hmmm... What does that tell us? ;-)
 

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland
It seems to me rather old-fashioned and the word order is unusual but I don't have too much of a problem with it.

Adolescents sometimes find themselves with a lot of liberty very suddenly and, in many cases, they are not sufficiently prepared to deal with it.

"The adolescent" is used to represent all adolescents.

Your rewrite is fine, the original is hopeless.
 

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
Your rewrite is fine, the original is hopeless.
I don't agree.

2002 found me in Jinzhou.
My 65th birthday found me unprepared to give up work.

I don't think I'd say/write such words, but I not infrequently read similar things.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top