On 18-Jan-2006, cguttman <4everclever4@web.de>
wrote in message <43ceac2b$0$10564$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au>:
> Hello folks,
>
> please read the following two sentences:
>
> There are several activities: a-type activities, b-type activities, and
> c-type activities. *These* activities are most important in a rescue task.
>
> Apparently, there is an English grammar rule that suggests that 'These'
> refers to the last mentioned type of activities, ie c-type activities.
> This sounds odd to me, is this correct? And if it is correct, is there a
> reference where this rule is stated?
To this native English speaker, your sentences above suggest that
a-type, b-type and c-type activities are all equally important in a
rescue task. If I wanted to say that the c-type activities are most
important, I would say "The last are..." or "These last are...".
--
Jim Heckman
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