explenation

[ostap77]

"He didn't manage to come up with any explanation."

OR

"He didn't manage to deliver any explanation."

OR

"He didn't manage to offer any explanation."

Are three sentences acceptable?

 

[bhaisahab]

"He didn't manage to come up with any explanation."

OR

"He didn't manage to deliver any explanation."

OR

"He didn't manage to offer any explanation."

Are three sentences acceptable?

I wouldn't use "manage to" in the second and third examples, it's fine in the first. Can you see why?

 

[ostap77]

I wouldn't use "manage to" in the second and third examples, it's fine in the first. Can you see why?

I'll try.Is it because 2) and 3) imply somewhat of a negative meaning? What would you change it to? "Succeed in" or "couldn't"?

 

[bhaisahab]

I'll try.Is it because 2) and 3) imply somewhat of a negative meaning? What would you change it to? "Succeed in" or "couldn't"?

When we use "manage to" in that way it implies that some effort was required, it wasn't easy, it requires effort to "come up with" something, to "offer" or "deliver" something doesn't have the same feeling of effort being required.
In the second and third examples I would say simply, "He didn't offer..." and "He didn't deliver..."

 

[ostap77]

When we use "manage to" in that way it implies that some effort was required, it wasn't easy, it requires effort to "come up with" something, to "offer" or "deliver" something doesn't have the same feeling of effort being required.
In the second and third examples I would say simply, "He didn't offer..." and "He didn't deliver..."

What if a person is a scientist and has been trying to explain a phenomenon, doesn't in involve some effort?

 

[bhaisahab]

What if a person is a scientist and has been trying to explain a phenomenon, doesn't in involve some effort?

In that case you could say "He managed/didn't manage to explain..."