| judged vs adjudged | A number of sturdy pillars: hard work, high savings rates and Confucian values. |
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#1 (permalink) Wed Sep 23, 2009 15:49 pm "I've tried" and "to find the truth" is a phrase? |
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hello everybody. I'm sorry, my english is terrible, but maybe this is exactly the right place for this problem 
So, there's a phrase from a song I can't understand well:
"I've done a lot / God knows I've tried To find the truth / I've even lied."
I write it how I listen it, since in some websites I visited I found it with different puntuaction.
My question is: "I've tried" and "to find the truth" is a phrase? I mean, I have to read it "God knows I've tried to find the truth"?
To be clear, if I want to insert the punctuaction, the right version would be this: - "I've done a lot, God knows I've tried to find the truth, I've even lied" or this: - "I've done a lot, God knows I've tried; to find the truth, I've even lied"
Thanks a lot  |
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5o'clock New Member
Joined: 23 Sep 2009 Posts: 1
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#2 (permalink) Wed Sep 23, 2009 18:34 pm "I've tried" and "to find the truth" is a phrase? |
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"I've done a lot, God knows I've tried; to find the truth, I've even lied"
Given the options, I would use this one. Very poetic.
Kitos. _________________ If you need me, I'm here. |
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Kitosdad I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 04 Mar 2009 Posts: 3939 Location: ESSEN, Germany, (but English.)
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#3 (permalink) Wed Sep 23, 2009 18:44 pm "I've tried" and "to find the truth" is a phrase? |
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1. - "I've done a lot, God knows I've tried to find the truth, I've even lied"
2. - "I've done a lot, God knows I've tried; to find the truth, I've even lied"
It could be either one, both constructions are possible. Based on this context, I couldn't say which one is better. The one Kitos chose, the second, goes best with metre; the first one has the advantage of being somewhat clearer, since it gives "tried" an object, i.e. the infinitive "to find...". I can't make a choice. The general meaning stays the same in either case, since the paradox truth - lied is present in both. Perhaps you could listen as to whether there is a small pause after "truth": if there is one, this might give a slight edge to the first interpretation. |
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Cerberus™ I'm here quite often ;-)

Joined: 11 Feb 2009 Posts: 775
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| judged vs adjudged | A number of sturdy pillars: hard work, high savings rates and Confucian values. |