Despite being easy,many failed to do the test.
It sounds as if 'being easy' refers to the word'many' but not 'the test'.
2007-01-06 21:46:58 · 25 answers · asked by edd 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Well, it is grammatically correct but you're right in thinking easy modifies many. So, despite being grammatically correct, it may not mean what the writer is trying to express. To say the test was easy, yet many people didn't do the test you could try this:
Many failed to do the test despite how easy it was.
or
Despite being an easy test, many failed to do it.
2007-01-06 21:54:25 · answer #1 · answered by SDTerp 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try saying "despite it being easy, many failed the test".
2007-01-06 21:48:47 · answer #2 · answered by mishmash 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Despite being easy: many failed to do the test.
Although failed to pass the test makes more sense.
I didn't appreciate the thumbs down as this is actually the only correct answer given as it ought to be a colon, or perhaps a semi-colon and not a comma that separates. The colon is placed to indicate that there will be further explanation of the phrase: despite being easy
2007-01-06 21:50:51 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
It is ok, but it could be improved... it would make more sense, to say 'despite the test being easy, many failed to complete it.'
Then we know exactly what the 'it' is referring to.
'Complete' is also better than 'do', which is a very non-specific verb.
Hope this helps!
2007-01-06 21:52:56 · answer #4 · answered by Funky Little Spacegirl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
>>>It sounds as if 'being easy' refers to the word'many' but not 'the test'.>>>
Yes, the way the sentence is structured, that's what it refers to.
It should be "Many failed the test, even though it was easy" or something like that.
.
2007-01-06 21:54:52 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
that is correct, although reversing it would probably be better. Many failed to do the test, despite it being easy.
2007-01-06 21:49:44 · answer #6 · answered by tngxnglin 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Despite being easy, the test was failed by many.
I think that clarifies the sentence.
2007-01-06 21:59:51 · answer #7 · answered by ANF 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I get what you're saying. It's kinda ambiguous. How about- Many failed the test, despite it being easy. ???
2007-01-06 21:59:25 · answer #8 · answered by Girly girl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Despite IT being easy,many failed to do the test"..... This removes any ambiguity,without having to re-write the whole sentence.
2007-01-06 21:53:46 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Or you can re-phrase it as follows:-
Despite the test being easy, many failed to do it.
2007-01-06 21:51:43 · answer #10 · answered by Kurt 2 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋