Would you explain the structure

[ledinhtam1980]

Dear all,
Would you explain the structure of the sentence in Toelf test :
The bat , say scientists , is one of nature's most dazzling and precious creation. Though to look at them most resemble rodents, bats closest cousin are primates.
"Though to look at them most resemble rodents" : could you tell me the structure of this sentence.
Thank in advance.

 

[SoothingDave]

Even though most bats resemble rodents, their closest cousins are primates.

 

[ledinhtam1980]

Thanks a lot for your reply.
I know the meaning. But could you explain how we reduce this sentence to phrase, please!
Are there any rule or grammar point for this use?

 

[Raymott]

The sentence can't be reduced to a phrase. Is that what you really mean?
"Though to look at them most resemble rodents" is not a sentence.

 

[Rover_KE]

ledinhtam, please note that a better title would have been though to look at them most resemble rodents.

Extract from the Posting Guidelines:

'Thread titles should include all or part of the word/phrase being discussed.'

 

[SoothingDave]

The sentence can't be reduced to a phrase. Is that what you really mean?
"Though to look at them most resemble rodents" is not a sentence.

Sure it is. Most (of them) resemble rodents. Subject verb object.

 

[ledinhtam1980]

I'm sorry.
Thanks for your advice.

 

[ledinhtam1980]

I mean that You could give me the way to write this phrase " "Though to look at them most resemble rodents".
So far, I only know that after "though" we use a sentence.

 

[SoothingDave]

"To look at them" is an expression, a sort of folksy way to say "the appearances are."

To look at him he looks poor, but he is actually a successful businessman.

 

[TheParser]

I only know that after "though" we use a sentence.

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Hello, Letinhtam:

I have been thinking about your fascinating question for 24 hours and would like to share some thoughts (not "answers").

I, of course, did some googling and discovered that you had received some good ideas at another grammar helpline. *** I wish to add my thoughts.


1. "To look at them" is parenthetical. That is to say, it is an extra remark "thrown" into the sentence. Basically, the sentence is:

"Although / even though / though most resemble rodents, the bats' closest cousins are primates."

2. The writer decided to "throw in" an infinitive phrase: "Though, to look at them, most resemble rodents, the bats' closest cousins are primates." In my opinion, the infinitive phrase needs commas around it in order to show that it could be removed without hurting the basic meaning of the sentence. BY THE WAY, you are right! After "though" a sentence DOES follow: "most resemble rodents." The commas around "to look at them" simply interrupt the sentence. Look at this: "Though (to look at them) most resemble rodents, ...."


a. I found this example in the "books" section of Google:

"As for our Dahlias, we knew very well, of course, what had blackened them, though, to look at them, you might have supposed they had been on the edge of a forest fire." -- The Garden (1920)

i. As you can see, "to look at them" could easily be removed and the basic sense of the sentence would remain.



*** I wish to credit "Clive" and "Demetrius" there for giving me some ideas upon which to expand.

 

[ledinhtam1980]

Thanks for all your explanations.
I have understood it clearly.