Alexandra Taggart Jan 11, 2012:

Marx argued that the next step after the proletarians have become conscious of themselves as a class rather than as isolated individuals, and become organized - they should become a major political force.That was the way to educate the ruling class.I have read The Manifesto a long time ago, alas,revived interest to Marx of every intellectual in the world is something I'd rather avoid.About the sentence:it doesn't require negative "he did not" (attached so much as to), though it could be desirable.

B D Finch Jan 11, 2012:

@Alexandra "So much" is not a clause as it lacks a verb. As a comparative, it has to be "as much", not "so much". I suggest that you might find a biography of Karl Marx both enlightening and light relief from the study of a good book on English grammar.

Alexandra Taggart Jan 11, 2012:

Marx was a political philosopher, not an activist; let us finish with it.
This text is written in prfect English, just punctuation is missing:'Marxist put forward the creation of workers’ parties; and attached so much importance to political, as to trade union activity.'
Many thanks to BDFinch.Please, my Lady-Friend-Colleague, would you be so kind to name the clause, is it a subordinate clause? The main clause is clear "so much", but why "as" to subordinate?Seems, it works similarly to "not so much as", but in opposite direction, counterclockwise.

Cynthia Johnson (X) Jan 11, 2012:

put forward this sentence doesnt sound natural to me as a historian, but as others have said, depends on whether this is a translation or not. I'd say: Marx/ Marxists argued/ fought for the creation of workers' parties and attached as much importance to politics/ political activity as to trade union activity.

B D Finch Jan 10, 2012:

@Nancy Quite so! It really depends whether or not it is actually a translation, in which case the source text rules.

NancyLynn Jan 10, 2012:

This could make for a very interesting discussion, BD; it might even be the argument of the dissertation or book susiq is translating. In any case it's certainly worth checking the accuracy of the translation. However, if that is what the source states, that is what the translator must translate, regardless of accuracy, personal viewpoints, etc.

B D Finch Jan 10, 2012:

Accuracy Marxists would generally attach greater importance to political than to trade union activity.