is too restrictive a solution here.

Status
Not open for further replies.

teechar

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Feb 18, 2015
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
English
Home Country
Iraq
Current Location
Iraq
Obviously full template specialization is too restrictive a solution here.
Is the grammar of the bold part correct?
Yes, it is. That structure is natural and useful. Learn it.
The sentence means:
Obviously, full template specialization is a solution that is too restrictive here.

How about "is a too restrictive solution here"?
No. That is ungrammatical.
 

Phaedrus

Banned
Joined
Jul 19, 2012
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
How about "is a too restrictive solution here."?
No. That is ungrammatical.
I think that, with a hyphen (cf. a too-long book), the phrase would have a fighting chance of being grammatical: a too-restrictive solution.

However, I prefer an overly restrictive solution to a too-restrictive solution. Also, as Teechar indicates, is too restrictive a solution works perfectly.
 

teechar

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Feb 18, 2015
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
English
Home Country
Iraq
Current Location
Iraq
I think that, with a hyphen (cf. a too-long book), the phrase would have a fighting chance of being grammatical: a too-restrictive solution.
Yes, such a structure exists out there, but it's not common. I've always assumed it was non-standard, and I recommend that learners do not use it.

However, I prefer an overly restrictive solution to a too-restrictive solution.
Indeed, that works.
 

GoesStation

No Longer With Us (RIP)
Joined
Dec 22, 2015
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
I think that, with a hyphen (cf. a too-long book), the phrase would have a fighting chance of being grammatical: a too-restrictive solution.
What a difference a hyphen can make! I completely missed that possibility. I find it completely acceptable. I bet it's appeared in The Economist many times. It looks like the kind of economical prose its editors favor.

Learners, this is a great demonstration of the importance of correct punctuation.
 

Yankee

Banned
Joined
Sep 13, 2013
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top