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Transitional and intransitional usage of

 Language Learning Forum : General discussion Post Reply
qazwsxed
Newbie
United States
Joined 5017 days ago

18 posts - 17 votes

 
 Message 1 of 2
23 March 2011 at 2:04am | IP Logged 
Which of you can differentiate / differentiate between the transitional and intransitional usage of the verb to differentiate?

For instance, can you use the following example sentence with and without preposition. If so, does it make any (tiny nuance of a) difference?

1) The students have learnt to differentiate (between) different parts of speech.

Recently, I´ve stumbled on the following construction:

2) The students can differentiate the long-term and immediate causes of the French revolution.

Apart from the fact that it seems to me that long-range is not used here properly as it implies bridging a period of time ahead, but not back in time, wouldn´t differentiate between be preferable here?
1 person has voted this message useful



mr_chinnery
Senior Member
England
Joined 5758 days ago

202 posts - 297 votes 
Speaks: English*
Studies: French

 
 Message 2 of 2
23 March 2011 at 2:14am | IP Logged 
You can use it without the preposition. It doesn't affect the meaning, but using the
preposition would be more 'proper'.

I don't think 'long range' would work here at all. It implies distance, rather than a
period of time. But yes, 'differentiate between' would be preferable, but again only from
a stylistic point of view.


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