And yet

Posted by Henry on October 22, 2003

In Reply to: See and yet posted by sphinx on October 22, 2003

: : : ?China is now trying to make stronger international links, signing extradition treaties with 40 countries. Since 1993, 210 suspects have been returned to China. But the anti-corruption agreements, including the recent UN agreement on fighting organized crime and money laundering, should see this number rise. The agreements let governments trace money hidden abroad and make it easier to punish officials who have fled overseas.

: : : (the use of 'see' here seems strange to me. COuld you explain it and any other examples?
: : : )
: : : But the fight against corruption is a difficult one. Many countries, including the US, have yet to sign the agreement.
: : : (what does yet mean? and "have yet to do sth.?")

: : : THanks!

: : That use of "see" seems strange because it IS strange.

: : Literal use: "John saw a dog wagging its tail."
: : Extended use: "The 1940s saw unprecedented numbers of women enter the work force."
: : Extended-too-far use: "The Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education saw school integration become a reality."

: : Your example with "agreements . . . should see" is another use extended too far.

: : "Many countries have yet to sign" means "Many countries have not yet signed," with the implication that these countries may never sign.

: Why 'have yet to do sth.' means 'have not yet to do'?
: what does yet mean? is it an adv.?

Yet is an adverb, but the two phrases are not the same.
They have yet to do something ... in the future.
They have not yet done something ... in the past.

"The action will see this number rise" refers to the change the action will bring in the future.
Alternative phrases include -
"The action will bring in a rise in number" or
"The action will lead to the number rising."