Try to understand those words rather than offering alternatives

[GoldfishLord]

The problem with that idea is that many of the 'little' words in English, the prepositions and particles have in themselves no ''meaning.

On the contrary for example, is used introduce a statement that says the opposite of the last one (definition). The word on means nothing in itself -it functions as part of a three-word expression.

jutfrank has done his best in this thread to explain how to is used in your sentence. jutfrank chooses his words carefully. Try to understand those words rather than offering alternatives.

What's the reason "offering" was used there instead of "to offer"?

 

[dunchee]

Quoted from Practical English Usage by Michael Swan, 3rd edition:
491.1 rather than
....
When the main clause has a to-infinitive, rather than is usually followed by an infinitive without to or an -ing form.

I decided to write rather than phone/phoning.​

 

[jutfrank]

I'm reluctant to answer on Piscean's behalf but I'd like to offer my understanding of why he may have selected to present a continuous aspect in this case.

If my guess is right, the thought could be expanded in this way:

Try to understand those words rather than [do what you're currently doing, which is] offering alternatives.

 

[GoldfishLord]

I'm reluctant to answer on Piscean's behalf but I'd like to offer my understanding of why he may have selected to present a continuous aspect in this case.

If my guess is right, the thought could be expanded in this way:

Try to understand those words rather than [do what you're currently doing, which is] offering alternatives.

I'd also appreciate it if you would let me know what "present" means in that context.
It seems to me that it comes close to meaning "use, express". However, I'm not certain.

 

[Tarheel]

www.dictionary.com

 

[GoldfishLord]

Thanks for your advice.
I have already consulted some dictionaries but have found that the definition given there somehow doesn’t seem to work with the context in which I have seen the word.

 

[emsr2d2]

Definition 1 HERE fits the context perfectly.

 

[GoldfishLord]

The problem with that idea is that many of the 'little' words in English, the prepositions and particles have in themselves no ''meaning.

On the contrary for example, is used introduce a statement that says the opposite of the last one (definition). The word on means nothing in itself -it functions as part of a three-word expression.

jutfrank has done his best in this thread to explain how to is used in your sentence. jutfrank chooses his words carefully. Try to understand those words rather than offering alternatives.

His writings are good, so I'm studying them.
Does "the prepositions and particles" refer back to "many of the 'little' words in English" or does it refer back to "the 'little' words in English"?

 

[Piscean]

The prepositions and particles refers back to the 'little' words in English.

 

[GoldfishLord]

The problem with that idea is that many of the 'little' words in English, the prepositions and particles have in themselves no ''meaning.

On the contrary for example, is used introduce a statement that says the opposite of the last one (definition). The word on means nothing in itself -it functions as part of a three-word expression.

jutfrank has done his best in this thread to explain how to is used in your sentence. jutfrank chooses his words carefully. Try to understand those words rather than offering alternatives.

What's the reason "the" was used there?

 

[emsr2d2]

Am I the only person who thinks there's something wrong with the original? I would have expected one of the following:

1. The problem with that idea is that, like many of the 'little' words in English, prepositions and particles have, in themselves, no meaning.
2. The problem with that idea is that many of the 'little' words in English, such as the prepositions and particles, have, in themselves, no meaning.

 

[Piscean]

The problem with that idea is that many of the 'little' words in English, the prepositions and particles have in themselves no ''meaning.

would have expected one of the following:
1. The problem with that idea is that, like many of the 'little' words in English, prepositions and particles have, in themselves, no meaning.
2. The problem with that idea is that many of the 'little' words in English, such as the prepositions and particles, have, in themselves, no meaning.

No to both for me, though they are both possible.

I intended the 'little' words to mean prepositions and particles. Perhaps it would have been clearer if I had used a comma after particles.

 

[emsr2d2]

Perhaps it would have been clearer if I had used a comma after particles.

Ahhh, yes! That comma would have cleared it all up for me. (Also, apologies - I thought that sentence was by GoldfishLord. I hadn't clocked that it was in a quote box in post #1.)

 

[GoldfishLord]

What's the role of "the"?

 

[jutfrank]

What's the role of "the"?

What do you mean? It's a reference word, as it always is. It makes specific reference to the head of its noun phrase, which in this case is the compound prepositions and particles.