What is the correct usage?
Given the two sentences:
- This is a magazine from the gas station and not intended to determine proper grammar.
- This is a magazine from the gas station and is not intended to determine proper grammar.
Which version is correct, or most correct. The emphasis in this case is on the magazine.
Mike
New member
2 answers 
This one is correct:
This is a magazine from the gas station and is not intended to determine proper grammar.
because it gives your predicate parallel structure (it is a magazine; it is not intended).
Hope that helps!
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answered Feb 21 at 16:43
Actually Holly
Expert
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I agree with Holly here, but I also think the verb determine is wrong. Determine has five main meanings as a transitive verb:
1. to settle or decide (a dispute, question, etc.) by an authoritative or conclusive decision.
2. to conclude or ascertain, as after reasoning, observation, etc.
3. (Geometry) to fix the position of.
4. to cause, affect, or control; fix or decide causally: Demand for a product usually determines supply.
5. to give direction or tendency to; impel.
None of these meanings fits in the sentence. I can't decide what might have been intended, but determine definitely does not make sense.
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answered Feb 22 at 07:57
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