I have a difficulty understanding the usage of the Idiom, "Declined in". Below are two lines from the Manhattan guide. The book however, does not contain any explanation as to why the first sentence is correct and the second wrong.
Here is an example from the Manhattan guide, Sentence correction, 4th edition, Chapter 9(Idiom Strategy), Page 151
Right : Oil declined in price
Wrong : My friend declined in reputation
Although I can say from gut feeling that the Wrong sentence above does sound wrong, I want to understand the exact grammatical rule which makes it wrong. To me both sentences look like they have been similiarly constructed - Oil/My friend DECLINED in Price/Reputation. How are these different from each other?
PS : Please keep your explanation simple, my grammar is not strong, I am more of a gut feeling sentence corrector. I am still learning grammar.
Here is an example from the Manhattan guide, Sentence correction, 4th edition, Chapter 9(Idiom Strategy), Page 151
Right : Oil declined in price
Wrong : My friend declined in reputation
Although I can say from gut feeling that the Wrong sentence above does sound wrong, I want to understand the exact grammatical rule which makes it wrong. To me both sentences look like they have been similiarly constructed - Oil/My friend DECLINED in Price/Reputation. How are these different from each other?
PS : Please keep your explanation simple, my grammar is not strong, I am more of a gut feeling sentence corrector. I am still learning grammar.
