Like English and Italian, each of which have elaborate rules

[eggpain24]

Like English and Italian, each of which have elaborate rules for forming words and sentences, so sign languages have rules for individual signs and signed sentences.

(A) Like English and Italian, each of which have elaborate rules for forming
(B) Similar to the elaborate rules that English and Italian have to form
(C) Just as English and Italian have elaborate rules for forming
(D) As with English and Italian, both having elaborate rules to form
(E) In the same way that there are elaborate rules used to form English and Italian

well, it is easy to pick up the answer. the correct choice is C, but I am wondering whether this question is purely for testing idiomatic expression.

in choice A, where "each" is the subject of relative clause, "have" needs to be switched to "has" (S-V agreement error)

also, "for forming" vs. "to form" is not a split here, I think. either "for"(showing the function) or "to" (showing the purpose) will be fine



Can instructors analyze the errors in choice B,D,E ( it seems to me that those choices just commit "wordy", "awkward" or "unidiomatic")

By the way, I think that in choice A:
like + noun should be preceded by "a clause", but the "clause" after "like" phrase is opened with the conjunction "so".

would this kind of construction create sentence fragment or "so" can be construed as "adverb"?

Thanks!

[jnelson0612]

Hi there,
First, "like + noun" does not need to be preceded by a clause. For instance:

Like Bob, Joe plays golf.

"Like" and "unlike" compare nouns. "As" is used to compare clauses.

As for B, C, and D:

(B) Similar to the elaborate rules that English and Italian have to form, so sign languages
Bad comparisons. I can't logically compare "rules" and "sign languages". I need to compare "rules" to "rules" or something very similar to rules. Also, I need to compare "rules" to a noun, not "so sign languages".

(D) As with English and Italian, both having elaborate rules to form
"having" is not correct. "having" indicates that something started in the past, is happening right now, and may not always be occurring. That would not apply well here.
The comparison isn't great either. I'd want to say something like "As with the rules of English and Italian, . . . ," the rules of sign language" . . .

(E) In the same way that there are elaborate rules used to form English and Italian
Bad comparison. "In the same way that there are rules . . ., so to sign languages". Better to say "In the same way that there are rules used to form English and Italian, there are also rules . . ."
Here I'm comparing rules to rules.

[cherryj222]

Hi there,
First, "like + noun" does not need to be preceded by a clause. For instance:

Like Bob, Joe plays golf.

"Like" and "unlike" compare nouns. "As" is used to compare clauses.

As for B, C, and D:

(B) Similar to the elaborate rules that English and Italian have to form, so sign languages
Bad comparisons. I can't logically compare "rules" and "sign languages". I need to compare "rules" to "rules" or something very similar to rules. Also, I need to compare "rules" to a noun, not "so sign languages".

(D) As with English and Italian, both having elaborate rules to form
"having" is not correct. "having" indicates that something started in the past, is happening right now, and may not always be occurring. That would not apply well here.
The comparison isn't great either. I'd want to say something like "As with the rules of English and Italian, . . . ," the rules of sign language" . . .

(E) In the same way that there are elaborate rules used to form English and Italian
Bad comparison. "In the same way that there are rules . . ., so to sign languages". Better to say "In the same way that there are rules used to form English and Italian, there are also rules . . ."
Here I'm comparing rules to rules.

Hi experts. I am wondering in which situations "having" can be used correctly? From my own experience, the usage of "having" is always wrong. Am I wrong? Really need your help and many thanks.

[RonPurewal]

From my own experience, the usage of "having" is always wrong. Am I wrong? Really need your help and many thanks.

Yes, you're wrong.

Any word has some correct usages. If a word were "always wrong", it wouldn't even be a word!

[RonPurewal]

E.g.

some-patients-who-do-not-respond-t4380.html

[RonPurewal]

(note: if you have questions about the problem in the linked thread, then please post those questions in the linked thread. thanks)