Grammar

[jiang]

Dear teachers,

This is a sentence from my textbook but I think there might be a misprint:

Often he would sit with his nose to the sky, turning his head this way and that way and that as if to check the wind.

Should it be:

Often he would sit with his nose to the sky, turning his head this way and that way as if to check the wind.

If the one in my textbook is correct and I am wrong could you please kindly explain the grammar of the sentence in my textbook?

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.

Jiang

 

[shalstudent]

Often he would sit with his nose to the sky, turning his head this way and that way and that as if to check the wind.

Jiang,
The sentence in your text book is right. This way and that literally means "in this manner." Most of the time, the word "that" is left out in a sentence of this kind.

Maybe, others can throw more light on why it is so......

 

[Shakespeare's brother]

Both ways are grammatically correct, however the text book is right in that you do not need to repeat the word 'way' in this sentence.

It is asumed from 'this way', that his head will in due course be turning 'that way'.

 

[Deepurple]

Often he would sit with his nose to the sky, turning his head this way and that way and that as if to check the wind.

Jiang

"and that" is referring back to the phrase "turning his head this way and that way". (Not a teacher)

 

[jiang]

Hi,
Thank you very much for your explanation. Now I see.
jiang

Often he would sit with his nose to the sky, turning his head this way and that way and that as if to check the wind.

Jiang,
The sentence in your text book is right. This way and that literally means "in this manner." Most of the time, the word "that" is left out in a sentence of this kind.

Maybe, others can throw more light on why it is so......

 

[jiang]

Hi,
Thank you very much for your explanation. Now I see.

Jiang

Both ways are grammatically correct, however the text book is right in that you do not need to repeat the word 'way' in this sentence.

It is asumed from 'this way', that his head will in due course be turning 'that way'.

 

[jiang]

Hi,
Thank you very much for your explanation. Now I see.

Jiang

"and that" is referring back to the phrase "turning his head this way and that way". (Not a teacher)