[Grammar] From...To...

[EverLivingPoet]

New Rules Proposed To Help High-Rises Withstand Attacks - NYTimes.com

"But federal recommendations after disasters have traditionally resulted in substantial changes in codes enacted by state and local governments from New York to California."

In this sentence, "from" seems to go with "New York to California" to show a range of states.



http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/22/politics/22museum.html

"With the glistening white dome of the Capitol as a backdrop, more than 20,000 people from Alaska to Peru paraded across the Mall to witness the event."

But in this sentence, "from" seems to go with "people", as in "people came from these places".

Could I be wrong?

 

[SoothingDave]

Your understanding is correct. I do not believe the second example is correct. The people are from Alaska and the people are from Peru (and places inbetween).

"People from Alaska to Peru" seems to be mixing the "from" meaning an originating place with the "from" from the expression "from x to y."

I would have said something like "people from as far flung places as Alaska and Peru."

 

[EverLivingPoet]

Would "....people from from Alaska to Peru...." be grammatically correct? The first "from" is taken to mean origination and the second "from" is combined with "Alaska to Peru" to mean a range of places?

 

[Leandro-Z]

I have never seen such a construction in a sentence. I think I have no part in this discussion. Thus, I will leave it up to other members' discretion.

 

[SoothingDave]

Would "....people from from Alaska to Peru...." be grammatically correct? The first "from" is taken to mean origination and the second "from" is combined with "Alaska to Peru" to mean a range of places?

Even if grammatically correct, it's awkward and unnatural and I still don't think the meaning is correct.

I'm interested in others' opinions as well. To me, this doesn't work. If you want to talk about a variety of places, you need to say something like "people from places ranging from Alaska to Peru."

 

[Leandro-Z]

I have been trying to work it out, but however hard have I tried, I couldn't find a solution. The only thing that comes to my mind is "North and Central Americans":-D
However, people from Peru belong to South America. Although it sounds awkward, I believe that "from from" would do well.

 

[Leandro-Z]

Why not "people from countries from Alaska to Peru"?

 

[SoothingDave]

Why not "people from countries from Alaska to Peru"?

Yeah, that works. You have to have something between the people and the "from." Whether that's "places," "locations," "countries" or whatever.

That's my opinion.

 

[EverLivingPoet]

So "....people from from Alaska to Peru...." might be correct, despite the double preposition.

 

[AliceChang1990]

"people in from Alaska to Peru" may work.

not teacher of course.

 

[bhaisahab]

So "....people from from Alaska to Peru...." might be correct, despite the double preposition.

No.

 

[bhaisahab]

"people in from Alaska to Peru" may work.

not teacher of course.

No, that doesn't work.

 

[bhaisahab]

"...people around Alaska to Peru..."

No.

 

[SoothingDave]

Why not "people from countries from Alaska to Peru"?

Yeah, that works. You have to have something between the people and the "from." Whether that's "places," "locations," "countries" or whatever.

That's my opinion.

Except that Alaska is not a country. So "country" doesn't work. Oops.

 

[EverLivingPoet]

How about "...people from in Alaska to Peru ...."?

 

[bhaisahab]

How about "...people from in Alaska to Peru ...."?

That's OK.

 

[SoothingDave]

i think "... people from , Alaska to Peru ... " is better. add a comma.

No, that doesn't work.

 

[EverLivingPoet]

Would "...people coming from from Alaska to Peru..." pass muster?

 

[emsr2d2]

Would "...people coming from from Alaska to Peru..." pass muster?

That's already been covered. No. It doesn't work. Someone has already posted what I would consider to be the clearest possible answer:

People from various places, ranging from Alaska to Peru...

 

[EverLivingPoet]

thanks!