Generated from C.65.00 /SYSADMIN/PUB/MYCICAT last modified on Sun Aug 29 15:08:37 2004
Suppose we rewrite it to make the command more general:
"GO [whichway] [TIME=when] [TO {which} {place}]
[AND BRUSH {whose} {what}]."
It looks a lot different. We have of words in lowercase
letters. And the words in lowercase don't tell us very much.
How soon is "when"? Suddenly the sentence is not very
specific. And suddenly, we have the option of making some
choices: "whichway" or "when" or "place" could be all sorts
of things -- as long as they make some sense.
"GO [UPSTAIRS] [RIGHT NOW] [TO {YOUR/MY/THE} {BEDROOM/BATHROOM}]
[AND BRUSH {YOUR/THE DOG'S} {TEETH/HAIR/CLOTHES}]."
This version doesn't leave us many choices. With
[UPSTAIRS] we don't have much choice at all. We can use
UPSTAIRS or nothing at all. But with [whichway], we can pick
almost anywhere that makes sense...or use nothing at all,
because [ ] means optional.
...Please press <RETURN>
Back to Main Index