The expression “It is one thing to … , but another to …”
I’ve just used this expression in the sentences below, and I wonder if the use of it can be somewhat misleading. More specifically, I’m talking about the “to” preceding “fully appreciate”.
I’ve used it to mean “in order to”, but the usual pattern of this expression seems to lead the listener to another interpretation.
“It is one thing to passively learn about ... but to fully appreciate how and when ... is quite another”.
Here, the “to” is used to form a subject noun phrase instead.
What’s your take on this?
“It is one thing to passively learn about all those various commands in JavaScript by poring over online materials. But to fully appreciate how and when to use each one, I need to try them out in my own code and have them corrected by someone in the know.”
meaning grammar prepositions
asked Dec 14 '15 at 17:15
pourrait Peut-être
11817
add a comment |
I’ve just used this expression in the sentences below, and I wonder if the use of it can be somewhat misleading. More specifically, I’m talking about the “to” preceding “fully appreciate”.
I’ve used it to mean “in order to”, but the usual pattern of this expression seems to lead the listener to another interpretation.
“It is one thing to passively learn about ... but to fully appreciate how and when ... is quite another”.
Here, the “to” is used to form a subject noun phrase instead.
What’s your take on this?
“It is one thing to passively learn about all those various commands in JavaScript by poring over online materials. But to fully appreciate how and when to use each one, I need to try them out in my own code and have them corrected by someone in the know.”
meaning grammar prepositions
asked Dec 14 '15 at 17:15
pourrait Peut-être
11817
The "It is one thing to X" phrasing often introduces "but [it is] another to Y"—but it doesn't have to: The thing identified as "It is one thing" is still one thing. However, the to that you focus on in the phrase beginning "but to fully appreciate" is not set in parallel with the to in the earlier phrase; the "but to" only coincidentally resembles the "but it is another to" that so often follows "It is one thing to" as a true counterpoint in parallel.
– Sven Yargs
Dec 14 '15 at 17:40
To understand this sentence you have to know that infinitival "to" can be used in several different ways.
– FumbleFingers
Dec 14 '15 at 17:44
add a comment |
I’ve just used this expression in the sentences below, and I wonder if the use of it can be somewhat misleading. More specifically, I’m talking about the “to” preceding “fully appreciate”.
I’ve used it to mean “in order to”, but the usual pattern of this expression seems to lead the listener to another interpretation.
“It is one thing to passively learn about ... but to fully appreciate how and when ... is quite another”.
Here, the “to” is used to form a subject noun phrase instead.
What’s your take on this?
“It is one thing to passively learn about all those various commands in JavaScript by poring over online materials. But to fully appreciate how and when to use each one, I need to try them out in my own code and have them corrected by someone in the know.”
meaning grammar prepositions
asked Dec 14 '15 at 17:15
pourrait Peut-être
11817
I’ve just used this expression in the sentences below, and I wonder if the use of it can be somewhat misleading. More specifically, I’m talking about the “to” preceding “fully appreciate”.
I’ve used it to mean “in order to”, but the usual pattern of this expression seems to lead the listener to another interpretation.
“It is one thing to passively learn about ... but to fully appreciate how and when ... is quite another”.
Here, the “to” is used to form a subject noun phrase instead.
What’s your take on this?
“It is one thing to passively learn about all those various commands in JavaScript by poring over online materials. But to fully appreciate how and when to use each one, I need to try them out in my own code and have them corrected by someone in the know.”
meaning grammar prepositions
meaning grammar prepositions
asked Dec 14 '15 at 17:15
pourrait Peut-être
11817
asked Dec 14 '15 at 17:15
pourrait Peut-être
11817
edited Dec 14 '15 at 18:45
asked Dec 14 '15 at 17:15
pourrait Peut-être
11817
asked Dec 14 '15 at 17:15
pourrait Peut-être
11817
asked Dec 14 '15 at 17:15
pourrait Peut-être
11817
11817
The "It is one thing to X" phrasing often introduces "but [it is] another to Y"—but it doesn't have to: The thing identified as "It is one thing" is still one thing. However, the to that you focus on in the phrase beginning "but to fully appreciate" is not set in parallel with the to in the earlier phrase; the "but to" only coincidentally resembles the "but it is another to" that so often follows "It is one thing to" as a true counterpoint in parallel.
– Sven Yargs
Dec 14 '15 at 17:40
To understand this sentence you have to know that infinitival "to" can be used in several different ways.
– FumbleFingers
Dec 14 '15 at 17:44
add a comment |
The "It is one thing to X" phrasing often introduces "but [it is] another to Y"—but it doesn't have to: The thing identified as "It is one thing" is still one thing. However, the to that you focus on in the phrase beginning "but to fully appreciate" is not set in parallel with the to in the earlier phrase; the "but to" only coincidentally resembles the "but it is another to" that so often follows "It is one thing to" as a true counterpoint in parallel.
– Sven Yargs
Dec 14 '15 at 17:40
To understand this sentence you have to know that infinitival "to" can be used in several different ways.
– FumbleFingers
Dec 14 '15 at 17:44
The "It is one thing to X" phrasing often introduces "but [it is] another to Y"—but it doesn't have to: The thing identified as "It is one thing" is still one thing. However, the to that you focus on in the phrase beginning "but to fully appreciate" is not set in parallel with the to in the earlier phrase; the "but to" only coincidentally resembles the "but it is another to" that so often follows "It is one thing to" as a true counterpoint in parallel.
– Sven Yargs
Dec 14 '15 at 17:40
The "It is one thing to X" phrasing often introduces "but [it is] another to Y"—but it doesn't have to: The thing identified as "It is one thing" is still one thing. However, the to that you focus on in the phrase beginning "but to fully appreciate" is not set in parallel with the to in the earlier phrase; the "but to" only coincidentally resembles the "but it is another to" that so often follows "It is one thing to" as a true counterpoint in parallel.
– Sven Yargs
Dec 14 '15 at 17:40
To understand this sentence you have to know that infinitival "to" can be used in several different ways.
– FumbleFingers
Dec 14 '15 at 17:44
To understand this sentence you have to know that infinitival "to" can be used in several different ways.
– FumbleFingers
Dec 14 '15 at 17:44
add a comment |
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
’Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus,
Another thing to fall. (Measure for Measure 2.1.17–18)
The coordinate pairing of infinitives in this construction is so well established that a reader is likely to reach the end of your first sentence waiting for the other shoe to drop. Your then beginning the second with a to infinitive of purpose is thus a kind of garden path. It is grammatically perfectly correct, but not as foolproof for your reader as you can and should make it.
answered Dec 14 '15 at 17:35
Brian Donovan
13.5k12459
add a comment |
"It is one thing to (blank), but another to (blank)" is a comparative structure.
Taking a cue from your example, it would make more sense to say something like "It is one thing to learn passively, but another to understand the material."
It's used specifically when you're comparing two things, with the second of them being the more important half of the pairing. (Macmillan)
answered Dec 14 '15 at 18:01
afry
937
add a comment |
It seems that you want to use unsuccessfully two constructions combined
“It is one thing to passively learn about all those various commands in JavaScript by poring over online materials. However, in order to fully appreciate how and when to use each one, I need to try them out in my own code and have them corrected by someone in the know.”
“It is one thing to passively learn about all those various commands in JavaScript by poring over online materials, but to fully appreciate how and when to use each one, I need to try them out in my own code and have them corrected by someone in the know.”
You are using a shortcut for no particular reason.
First solution is ok. It gives you a rest after one long sentence for approaching another long sentence.
Second one is stressing the importance of the second sentence, you want a reader to concentrate and grasp the complete meaning, compare two choices you are trying to explain. You are building a momentum.
It is up to you which one you like better, but your solution is really neither one nor the other.
add a comment |
First, it is always awkward to have anything between to and the infinitive as we were told in grammar school. Secondly, the comparison should form a somewhat sharp contrast rather than two similar but slightly different things. My example is this: "It is one thing for a person to own what he has created; it is another for him to stop others from copying it." - I teach Property Law and Intellectual Property Law in China.
answered 3 mins ago
X. David Zheng
1
New contributor
X. David Zheng is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
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4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
’Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus,
Another thing to fall. (Measure for Measure 2.1.17–18)
The coordinate pairing of infinitives in this construction is so well established that a reader is likely to reach the end of your first sentence waiting for the other shoe to drop. Your then beginning the second with a to infinitive of purpose is thus a kind of garden path. It is grammatically perfectly correct, but not as foolproof for your reader as you can and should make it.
answered Dec 14 '15 at 17:35
Brian Donovan
13.5k12459
add a comment |
’Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus,
Another thing to fall. (Measure for Measure 2.1.17–18)
The coordinate pairing of infinitives in this construction is so well established that a reader is likely to reach the end of your first sentence waiting for the other shoe to drop. Your then beginning the second with a to infinitive of purpose is thus a kind of garden path. It is grammatically perfectly correct, but not as foolproof for your reader as you can and should make it.
answered Dec 14 '15 at 17:35
Brian Donovan
13.5k12459
add a comment |
’Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus,
Another thing to fall. (Measure for Measure 2.1.17–18)
The coordinate pairing of infinitives in this construction is so well established that a reader is likely to reach the end of your first sentence waiting for the other shoe to drop. Your then beginning the second with a to infinitive of purpose is thus a kind of garden path. It is grammatically perfectly correct, but not as foolproof for your reader as you can and should make it.
answered Dec 14 '15 at 17:35
Brian Donovan
13.5k12459
’Tis one thing to be tempted, Escalus,
Another thing to fall. (Measure for Measure 2.1.17–18)
The coordinate pairing of infinitives in this construction is so well established that a reader is likely to reach the end of your first sentence waiting for the other shoe to drop. Your then beginning the second with a to infinitive of purpose is thus a kind of garden path. It is grammatically perfectly correct, but not as foolproof for your reader as you can and should make it.
answered Dec 14 '15 at 17:35
Brian Donovan
13.5k12459
answered Dec 14 '15 at 17:35
Brian Donovan
13.5k12459
answered Dec 14 '15 at 17:35
Brian Donovan
13.5k12459
answered Dec 14 '15 at 17:35
Brian Donovan
13.5k12459
13.5k12459
add a comment |
add a comment |
"It is one thing to (blank), but another to (blank)" is a comparative structure.
Taking a cue from your example, it would make more sense to say something like "It is one thing to learn passively, but another to understand the material."
It's used specifically when you're comparing two things, with the second of them being the more important half of the pairing. (Macmillan)
answered Dec 14 '15 at 18:01
afry
937
add a comment |
"It is one thing to (blank), but another to (blank)" is a comparative structure.
Taking a cue from your example, it would make more sense to say something like "It is one thing to learn passively, but another to understand the material."
It's used specifically when you're comparing two things, with the second of them being the more important half of the pairing. (Macmillan)
answered Dec 14 '15 at 18:01
afry
937
add a comment |
"It is one thing to (blank), but another to (blank)" is a comparative structure.
Taking a cue from your example, it would make more sense to say something like "It is one thing to learn passively, but another to understand the material."
It's used specifically when you're comparing two things, with the second of them being the more important half of the pairing. (Macmillan)
answered Dec 14 '15 at 18:01
afry
937
"It is one thing to (blank), but another to (blank)" is a comparative structure.
Taking a cue from your example, it would make more sense to say something like "It is one thing to learn passively, but another to understand the material."
It's used specifically when you're comparing two things, with the second of them being the more important half of the pairing. (Macmillan)
answered Dec 14 '15 at 18:01
afry
937
answered Dec 14 '15 at 18:01
afry
937
answered Dec 14 '15 at 18:01
afry
937
answered Dec 14 '15 at 18:01
afry
937
937
add a comment |
add a comment |
It seems that you want to use unsuccessfully two constructions combined
“It is one thing to passively learn about all those various commands in JavaScript by poring over online materials. However, in order to fully appreciate how and when to use each one, I need to try them out in my own code and have them corrected by someone in the know.”
“It is one thing to passively learn about all those various commands in JavaScript by poring over online materials, but to fully appreciate how and when to use each one, I need to try them out in my own code and have them corrected by someone in the know.”
You are using a shortcut for no particular reason.
First solution is ok. It gives you a rest after one long sentence for approaching another long sentence.
Second one is stressing the importance of the second sentence, you want a reader to concentrate and grasp the complete meaning, compare two choices you are trying to explain. You are building a momentum.
It is up to you which one you like better, but your solution is really neither one nor the other.
add a comment |
It seems that you want to use unsuccessfully two constructions combined
“It is one thing to passively learn about all those various commands in JavaScript by poring over online materials. However, in order to fully appreciate how and when to use each one, I need to try them out in my own code and have them corrected by someone in the know.”
“It is one thing to passively learn about all those various commands in JavaScript by poring over online materials, but to fully appreciate how and when to use each one, I need to try them out in my own code and have them corrected by someone in the know.”
You are using a shortcut for no particular reason.
First solution is ok. It gives you a rest after one long sentence for approaching another long sentence.
Second one is stressing the importance of the second sentence, you want a reader to concentrate and grasp the complete meaning, compare two choices you are trying to explain. You are building a momentum.
It is up to you which one you like better, but your solution is really neither one nor the other.
add a comment |
It seems that you want to use unsuccessfully two constructions combined
“It is one thing to passively learn about all those various commands in JavaScript by poring over online materials. However, in order to fully appreciate how and when to use each one, I need to try them out in my own code and have them corrected by someone in the know.”
“It is one thing to passively learn about all those various commands in JavaScript by poring over online materials, but to fully appreciate how and when to use each one, I need to try them out in my own code and have them corrected by someone in the know.”
You are using a shortcut for no particular reason.
First solution is ok. It gives you a rest after one long sentence for approaching another long sentence.
Second one is stressing the importance of the second sentence, you want a reader to concentrate and grasp the complete meaning, compare two choices you are trying to explain. You are building a momentum.
It is up to you which one you like better, but your solution is really neither one nor the other.
It seems that you want to use unsuccessfully two constructions combined
“It is one thing to passively learn about all those various commands in JavaScript by poring over online materials. However, in order to fully appreciate how and when to use each one, I need to try them out in my own code and have them corrected by someone in the know.”
“It is one thing to passively learn about all those various commands in JavaScript by poring over online materials, but to fully appreciate how and when to use each one, I need to try them out in my own code and have them corrected by someone in the know.”
You are using a shortcut for no particular reason.
First solution is ok. It gives you a rest after one long sentence for approaching another long sentence.
Second one is stressing the importance of the second sentence, you want a reader to concentrate and grasp the complete meaning, compare two choices you are trying to explain. You are building a momentum.
It is up to you which one you like better, but your solution is really neither one nor the other.
answered Dec 14 '15 at 21:20
user98900
add a comment |
add a comment |
First, it is always awkward to have anything between to and the infinitive as we were told in grammar school. Secondly, the comparison should form a somewhat sharp contrast rather than two similar but slightly different things. My example is this: "It is one thing for a person to own what he has created; it is another for him to stop others from copying it." - I teach Property Law and Intellectual Property Law in China.
answered 3 mins ago
X. David Zheng
1
New contributor
X. David Zheng is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
First, it is always awkward to have anything between to and the infinitive as we were told in grammar school. Secondly, the comparison should form a somewhat sharp contrast rather than two similar but slightly different things. My example is this: "It is one thing for a person to own what he has created; it is another for him to stop others from copying it." - I teach Property Law and Intellectual Property Law in China.
answered 3 mins ago
X. David Zheng
1
New contributor
X. David Zheng is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
First, it is always awkward to have anything between to and the infinitive as we were told in grammar school. Secondly, the comparison should form a somewhat sharp contrast rather than two similar but slightly different things. My example is this: "It is one thing for a person to own what he has created; it is another for him to stop others from copying it." - I teach Property Law and Intellectual Property Law in China.
answered 3 mins ago
X. David Zheng
1
New contributor
X. David Zheng is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
First, it is always awkward to have anything between to and the infinitive as we were told in grammar school. Secondly, the comparison should form a somewhat sharp contrast rather than two similar but slightly different things. My example is this: "It is one thing for a person to own what he has created; it is another for him to stop others from copying it." - I teach Property Law and Intellectual Property Law in China.
answered 3 mins ago
X. David Zheng
1
New contributor
X. David Zheng is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 3 mins ago
X. David Zheng
1
New contributor
X. David Zheng is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 3 mins ago
X. David Zheng
1
answered 3 mins ago
X. David Zheng
1
1
New contributor
X. David Zheng is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
X. David Zheng is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
X. David Zheng is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
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The "It is one thing to X" phrasing often introduces "but [it is] another to Y"—but it doesn't have to: The thing identified as "It is one thing" is still one thing. However, the to that you focus on in the phrase beginning "but to fully appreciate" is not set in parallel with the to in the earlier phrase; the "but to" only coincidentally resembles the "but it is another to" that so often follows "It is one thing to" as a true counterpoint in parallel.
– Sven Yargs
Dec 14 '15 at 17:40
To understand this sentence you have to know that infinitival "to" can be used in several different ways.
– FumbleFingers
Dec 14 '15 at 17:44