Is this grammatically correct: Although, this obstacle could be overcome with the help of an adult.

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Scott
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Is this grammatically correct: Although, this obstacle could be overcome with the help of an adult.

Post by Scott »

Is the following sentence grammatically correct:

Although, this obstacle could be overcome with the help of an adult.
It has been said to me that it is not grammatically correct because the word although is a subordinating conjunction, and the sentence with this conjunction requires both a main clause and a subordinate clause.
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Post by MrsCatInTheHat »

I don't think I'd put a comma in this sentence.
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Post by Mr Benji »

Scott wrote: 15 Dec 2018, 09:08 Is the following sentence grammatically correct:




It is true that the statement is incorrect.

1." Although'' is a one of the subordinating conjunction. Others are
though,
After Once,
Until
Before
So that
Whereas
Even if
Wherever
Even though
Whether



2.Subordinate means any thing of less importance.

Conjunction simply means joining.

therefore these group of words must be used with two clauses, with one more emphasized.i.e. the main clause

Also clauses simply means a group of words.


3. It doesn't need a comma attached.
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Post by Espie »

Scott wrote: 15 Dec 2018, 09:08 Is the following sentence grammatically correct:

Although, this obstacle could be overcome with the help of an adult.
It has been said to me that it is not grammatically correct because the word although is a subordinating conjunction, and the sentence with this conjunction requires both a main clause and a subordinate clause.
a. Answer: No.

b. Considerations:
1. On its own, it is a mere fragment or not a complete thought. It may (or may not) be stylistically acceptable in less formal writing if the comma is omitted.
2. It has only one clause; the (ideal) main clause that warrants the subordinating conjunction "although" is missing. (Although "help" is also a verb, it is used as a noun in your (supposed) sentence. Thus, "with the help of an adult" is just an adverb phrase and not an adverb clause.) A conjunctive adverb is better in this case.
3. If "although" is meant to modify "overcome," then it is misplaced and better near the rest of the adverb phrase it is supposed to belong to.

c. Some recommendations:
1. To use "although" in the sentence without adding another clause:
"This obstacle could be overcome although with the help of an adult."
2. To begin the sentence with a conjunctive adverb and to contrast it with a previous sentence's thought:
"However, this obstacle could be overcome with the help of an adult."
3. Like item c2 and to have fewer (or ten instead of twelve) words and an active voice:
"However, we could overcome this obstacle with an adult's help."
(4. To emphasise teamwork:
"However, we could overcome this obstacle with everyone's help.")
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Post by kandscreeley »

It feels ambiguous to me, though I wouldn't necessarily say it's incorrect.
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Post by jgraney8 »

Espie wrote: 19 Dec 2018, 18:18
Scott wrote: 15 Dec 2018, 09:08 Is the following sentence grammatically correct:

Although, this obstacle could be overcome with the help of an adult.
It has been said to me that it is not grammatically correct because the word although is a subordinating conjunction, and the sentence with this conjunction requires both a main clause and a subordinate clause.
a. Answer: No.

b. Considerations:
1. On its own, it is a mere fragment or not a complete thought. It may (or may not) be stylistically acceptable in less formal writing if the comma is omitted.
2. It has only one clause; the (ideal) main clause that warrants the subordinating conjunction "although" is missing. (Although "help" is also a verb, it is used as a noun in your (supposed) sentence. Thus, "with the help of an adult" is just an adverb phrase and not an adverb clause.) A conjunctive adverb is better in this case.
3. If "although" is meant to modify "overcome," then it is misplaced and better near the rest of the adverb phrase it is supposed to belong to.

c. Some recommendations:
1. To use "although" in the sentence without adding another clause:
"This obstacle could be overcome although with the help of an adult."
2. To begin the sentence with a conjunctive adverb and to contrast it with a previous sentence's thought:
"However, this obstacle could be overcome with the help of an adult."
3. Like item c2 and to have fewer (or ten instead of twelve) words and an active voice:
"However, we could overcome this obstacle with an adult's help."
(4. To emphasise teamwork:
"However, we could overcome this obstacle with everyone's help.")
This is an excellent analysis and very clear recommendations.
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Post by Espie »

jgraney8 wrote: 20 Dec 2018, 15:12
Espie wrote: 19 Dec 2018, 18:18
Scott wrote: 15 Dec 2018, 09:08 Is the following sentence grammatically correct:




It has been said to me that it is not grammatically correct because the word although is a subordinating conjunction, and the sentence with this conjunction requires both a main clause and a subordinate clause.
a. Answer: No.

b. Considerations:
1. On its own, it is a mere fragment or not a complete thought. It may (or may not) be stylistically acceptable in less formal writing if the comma is omitted.
2. It has only one clause; the (ideal) main clause that warrants the subordinating conjunction "although" is missing. (Although "help" is also a verb, it is used as a noun in your (supposed) sentence. Thus, "with the help of an adult" is just an adverb phrase and not an adverb clause.) A conjunctive adverb is better in this case.
3. If "although" is meant to modify "overcome," then it is misplaced and better near the rest of the adverb phrase it is supposed to belong to.

c. Some recommendations:
1. To use "although" in the sentence without adding another clause:
"This obstacle could be overcome although with the help of an adult."
2. To begin the sentence with a conjunctive adverb and to contrast it with a previous sentence's thought:
"However, this obstacle could be overcome with the help of an adult."
3. Like item c2 and to have fewer (or ten instead of twelve) words and an active voice:
"However, we could overcome this obstacle with an adult's help."
(4. To emphasise teamwork:
"However, we could overcome this obstacle with everyone's help.")
This is an excellent analysis and has very clear recommendations.
Thank you. Teamwork works. :tiphat:
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Post by Wriley »

I can't see how that sentence is wrong.
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Post by Scott »

So it sounds like the word "although" can only be used as a coordinating conjunction like the phrase "even though" or the word "whether".

For some reason, it seems folks are saying that the word "although" can not be used as a conjunctive adverb such as the words "however", "additionally", or "conversely". I don't disagree, but now I still wonder what is that reason?

Why can't the word "although" be used as a conjunctive adverb like the word "however"?
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Post by Nikolas Farmakis »

I would remove the comma after the word 'Although', because it does not sound correct.
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Post by Juliet+1 »

Scott wrote: 15 Jul 2019, 10:27 So it sounds like the word "although" can only be used as a coordinating conjunction like the phrase "even though" or the word "whether".

For some reason, it seems folks are saying that the word "although" can not be used as a conjunctive adverb such as the words "however", "additionally", or "conversely". I don't disagree, but now I still wonder what is that reason?

Why can't the word "although" be used as a conjunctive adverb like the word "however"?
There is no logical reason. It's simply common practice. If enough writers begin to use "although" as you have, then it will become accepted. The interesting thing about "although" with a comma is that it gives a much longer pause than the words that we are accustomed to seeing. A writer might choose to do that for effect.
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