Is this sentence grammatically correct?

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lovehhi
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Is this sentence grammatically correct?

Postby lovehhi » Mon Jun 27, 2022 12:28 pm

Hi!

Can I ask you if the following sentence (particularly underlined part) is grammartically correct or not?

" Images of a large amount of waste floating on the river are used to expressing the environmental problem."
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DaveAgain
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Re: Is this sentence grammatically correct?

Postby DaveAgain » Mon Jun 27, 2022 1:02 pm

lovehhi wrote:Hi!

Can I ask you if the following sentence (particularly underlined part) is grammartically correct or not?

" Images of a large amount of waste floating on the river are used to expressing the environmental problem."
No. "to expressing" is wrong. You could perhaps have "used to express", or maybe "used expressing".

I think you might be better not using express though. Perhaps "used to demonstrate" or "used to illustrate".
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lovehhi
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Re: Is this sentence grammatically correct?

Postby lovehhi » Mon Jun 27, 2022 1:08 pm

Then, you mean, '~ on the river are used to demonstrate ~' or '~ on the river are used demonstrating' is available, right?
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Re: Is this sentence grammatically correct?

Postby iguanamon » Mon Jun 27, 2022 1:27 pm

lovehhi wrote:Hi!

Can I ask you if the following sentence (particularly underlined part) is grammartically correct or not?

" Images of a large amount of waste floating on the river are used to [u]expressing[/u] the environmental problem."

"Images of a large amount of waste floating on the river are used to highlight/emphasize the environmental problem."
The example of "to expressing" is grammatically incorrect and contextually not appropriate to express the meaning desired. First, "expressing" is a gerund. While you could say "to express", this verb doesn't convey the precision and meaning of to "highlight" or "emphasize". The word "underline" could also be used here.
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