[General] "Eating fireflies can be avoided by bats."

[runner]

Does this sentence make sense?

"Eating fireflies can be avoided by bats."

I think this sounds awkward but can't explain why. Could you please explain why?

 

[Rover_KE]

Welcome to the forum, runner.

In what context do you want to use this sentence?

 

[runner]

Welcome to the forum, runner.

In what context do you want to use this sentence?

I'm sorry I missed the first part. The original sentence is "Fireflies glow so that eating them can be avoided by bats."
I wonder whether this sentence makes sense. Can this carry the meaning "Fireflies glow so that they can avoid being eaten by bats."?

 

[Rover_KE]

OK. It's a requirement of the forum that you tell us the source and author of any text you quote.

 

[tedmc]

Only the second sentence with a common subject is correct.

 

[runner]

OK. It's a requirement of the forum that you tell us the source and author of any text you quote.

One of my students wrote "Fireflies glow so that eating them can be avoided by bats" for the question where I expected them to write "Fireflies glow so that they can avoid being eaten by bats." I want to know whether this answer can be considered correct.

 

[Rover_KE]

Right. If you are an English teacher, you need to amend your profile, which at present says 'Student or Learner'.

Your alternative is better than your student's sentence, though a better answer would be, for instance, 'Fireflies glow mainly to attract a mate, but their light serves as a warning to bats that they have a bitter taste when eaten'.

(Not an entomologist.)

 

[runner]

Right. If you are an English teacher, you need to amend your profile, which at present says 'Student or Learner'.

Your alternative is better than your student's sentence, though a better answer would be, for instance, 'Fireflies glow mainly to attract a mate, but their light serves as a warning to bats that they have a bitter taste when eaten'.

(Not an entomologist.)

Thank you for your answer. I will amend my profile.
[FONT=&#54632]So can I say even though my student’s sentence is awkward, but sill carries the intended meaning?[/FONT]

 

[GoesStation]

Thank you for your answer. I will amend my profile.
[FONT=&#54632]So can I say even though my student’s sentence is awkward, but still carries the intended meaning?[/FONT]

No.

 

[runner]

No.

Could you explain the reason? I need to explain to my student and I also want to know what's wrong about the sentence.

 

[GoesStation]

One of my students wrote "Fireflies glow so that eating them can be avoided by bats" for the question where I expected them to write "Fireflies glow so that they can avoid being eaten by bats." I want to know whether this answer can be considered correct.

Could you explain the reason? I need to explain to my student and I also want to know what's wrong about the sentence.

It makes the reader think that bats don't want to eat fireflies and the bugs light up to help them.

 

[emsr2d2]

Could you explain why? [STRIKE]the reason?[/STRIKE]

I need to explain it to my student and I also want to know what's wrong [STRIKE]about[/STRIKE] with the sentence.

We don't "explain a reason". We explain something or we give a reason.

The problem with your student's sentence is that it means that eating fireflies is something that can be avoided, specifically by bats. The sentence concentrates too much on the bats rather than the fireflies. Fireflies glow for self-protection - so that nothing eats them.

(Cross-posted)