out of our control/ out of control

Status
Not open for further replies.

optimistic pessimist

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2008
Member Type
Native Language
Japanese
Home Country
Japan
Current Location
Japan
[FONT=MS Pゴシック]Dear all,
[FONT=MS Pゴシック]In the sentence below, which you you think is better?[/FONT]
[FONT=MS Pゴシック] [/FONT]
If a nuclear power plant get out of our control, it can cause enormous damage to the environment.

If a nuclear power plant getout of control, it can cause enormous damage to the environment.
[/FONT][FONT=MS Pゴシック][/FONT]
Thank you![FONT=MS Pゴシック][/FONT]


[FONT=MS Pゴシック]OP

[/FONT][FONT=MS Pゴシック][/FONT]
 

Pangus

Junior Member
Joined
Aug 31, 2013
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
If a nuclear power plant gets out of control, it can cause enormous damage to the environment.

The 'our' is not wrong but sounds strange, maybe because it is unnecessary information. Also, notice the 's' for the third person singular of 'get'.

 

SoothingDave

VIP Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
"Gets"

Whether "our" control or not really depends on who "we" are. If the writer is responsible for running the plant, then I think "our" control is best.
 

Raymott

VIP Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2008
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
English
Home Country
Australia
Current Location
Australia
Yes, the sentences have completely different meanings.
A nuclear power plant out of control is a dangerous thing.
A nuclear power plant out of your control and in the safe control of someone else might be even less dangerous than it was before.
"control" here has different meanings. "Out of control" means it's not functioning properly. "Out of your control" could simply mean that it's in the control of someone else, so is not really "out of control".
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top