What's the grammar of ' It's simply their presence as a goad' . I recently read an article where there is a sentence said ' It isn't necessarily new ideas from the outside that directly drive innovat

Andrew_Wilson

What's the grammar of ' It's simply their presence as a goad' . I recently read an article where there is a sentence said ' It isn't necessarily new ideas from the outside that directly drive innovation. It's simply their presence as a goad' . What is the grammar here?

Nov 7, 2017 9:04 AM

Answers · 5

Hello Andrew, I hope you are doing well. Literally, a goad is a stick with a pointed or electrically charged end, for driving cattle, oxen, etc. So, in this context, a goad is anything that acts as a spur or incitement to drive people to innovate. That's my interpretation, I hope it helps. Best regards.

November 7, 2017

The meaning is not very well expressed. I don't recommend trying to understand it too much - the confusion won't disappear! A correct way to say it is: "Their presence is enough (of a goad/an incentive)"

November 7, 2017

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