[Vocabulary] inadequate?

[James Hwang]

Hi teachers, Is the word 'inadequate' right word to use?

"He pronounced the previous death sentence inadequate."

And I want to know any other words that can be replaced.

Thank you in advance!

 

[emsr2d2]

Hi teachers.

Is [STRIKE]the word[/STRIKE] 'inadequate' the right word to use in the following sentence?

"He pronounced the previous death sentence inadequate."

[STRIKE]And[/STRIKE] Also, I want to know any other words that can [STRIKE]be[/STRIKE] [STRIKE]replaced[/STRIKE] replace it.

Thank you in advance!

Welcome to the forum. :hi:

Note my changes above.

Your sentence is grammatically correct but a little illogical. If the death sentence was inadequate, what did the speaker think the sentence should have been? Most people think that a death sentence is the harshest sentence which can be handed down.

 

[Rover_KE]

What is the source of your quoted sentence, James?

 

[Skrej]

Most people think that a death sentence is the harshest sentence which can be handed down.

True, but there are some cases where death does seem too easy for a truly evil person. It just isn't vindictive enough.

I'm not sure if that's what the original sentence is trying to convey, but I could easily see somebody trying to express the idea that a mere death sentence wasn't true justice.

I could also understand someone who was seeking vigilante justice feeling that the death was inadequate since they couldn't exact revenge themselves.

 

[Rover_KE]

We'll probably know more when James tells us where he encountered this sentence.

 

[James Hwang]

The sentence is from vocabulary book. The author who is non-native wrote the sentence as a example to teach the usage of 'pronounce'.

The word and the example sentence is translated in my language as well so I guess he used 'inadequate' to say giving him death penalty was not appropriate and suitable. I have no idea why it is because there's no context in the example sentence but I think he is trying to convey that to give the person death penalty was too heavy and it should have been light punishment.

So in this case, 'inadequate' isn't what the author should use right?

 

[Rover_KE]

... I think he is trying to convey that to give the person the death penalty was too heavy and it should have been a lighter punishment.

So in this case, 'inadequate' isn't what the author should use, right?

Right. 'Inappropriate' would be more appropriate.

 

[Tdol]

I think he is trying to convey that to give the person death penalty was too heavy and it should have been light punishment.

So in this case, 'inadequate' isn't what the author should use right?

Very much so- it's the opposite of that meaning.