In the sentence ‘Few hone this skill better than professional endurance and adventure athletes, who make a living withstanding conditions others cannot.’ we have a complex sentence that involves comparison, relative clauses, and verb tense choices. Understanding its structure can help you break down its components and see how they work together. Let’s explore the sentence’s structure and its meaning.
Breaking Down the Sentence Structure
The sentence consists of two main parts: the independent clause ‘Few hone this skill better than professional endurance and adventure athletes’ and the relative clause ‘who make a living withstanding conditions others cannot.’ Let’s examine these two components in more detail.
Comparing with ‘Few hone this skill better than’
The phrase ‘Few hone this skill better than’ sets up a comparison. The word ‘few’ indicates that the group being referred to is small in number, and the phrase ‘hone this skill better than’ means that the group in question excels at refining a particular skill to a higher degree than others. So, this part of the sentence establishes that professional endurance and adventure athletes are highly skilled in a certain area, possibly related to physical or mental endurance.
Relative Clause: ‘who make a living withstanding conditions others cannot’
The second part of the sentence is a relative clause that describes ‘professional endurance and adventure athletes.’ The clause begins with the relative pronoun ‘who,’ referring back to the athletes mentioned in the first part of the sentence. The phrase ‘make a living’ indicates that the athletes earn their income through the actions described, and ‘withstanding conditions others cannot’ further emphasizes the extraordinary nature of their skills. This part highlights that these athletes endure extreme conditions that most people are unable to handle.
Verb Tense in the Sentence
The verb tense used in the sentence is present simple, which is common for general statements, truths, or facts. The verb ‘hone’ refers to an ongoing or habitual action, indicating that the athletes continually improve their skills over time. The phrase ‘make a living’ also uses the present simple tense to convey a regular action (earning money by withstanding difficult conditions). The overall effect of the tense choices is to describe the enduring nature of the athletes’ work and skill development.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the sentence ‘Few hone this skill better than professional endurance and adventure athletes, who make a living withstanding conditions others cannot’ is a well-constructed example of a complex sentence that uses comparison and relative clauses to describe a group of individuals. The sentence effectively communicates that these athletes are highly skilled at what they do and that their work requires them to endure extreme conditions. Understanding the sentence’s structure helps clarify its meaning and how each part contributes to the overall message.
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