<p>集合论(set theory) is the subject.</p>
<p>提供了(provide) is the verb, where '了' marks the action as complete at the time we are talking about.</p>
<p>要如何描述数学物件(how to describe math objects) is an attributive clause that modifies '语言', the object.</p>
<p>This sentence is grammarly problematic though, it feels like google translated, 集合论提供了描述数学物件的语言 would be more natural.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-10-20T10:50:37.213Z
2021-10-20T10:50:37.213Z
Jason Swift
<p>Here is a sentence from the Baidu Baike article on <a href="https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E9%9B%86%E5%90%88%E8%AE%BA/494533" rel="nofollow noreferrer">set theory 集合论</a>. I am trying to read this article using a dictionary because it has many words that I have not seen before.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>在大多数现代数学的公式化中，集合论提供了要如何描述数学物件的语言。</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>Zài dàduōshù xiàndài shùxué de gōngshìhuà zhōng, jíhélùn tígōngle yào rúhé miáoshù shùxué wùjiàn de yǔyán.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I am pretty sure that the first part translates to <code>In the formalization of most of modern mathematics, ...</code>.</p>
<p>I think that the second part translates to something <em>similar to</em> <code>set theory provides the language for describing mathematical objects</code>. For the second part, I am guessing based on context.</p>
<p>However, I don't know what 要如何 contributes to the meaning. Also, I don't know why 提供 appears with the perfective marker 了. The article <em>might</em> be saying that set theory <em>has provided</em> a language for describing mathematics, and describing a change in modern math from a historical perspective.</p>
<p>How do you actually translate this sentence? What are 了 and 要如何 contributing to its meaning?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-10-20T04:27:24.407Z
The sentence looks like a translation from another language(probably English). It might not be pretty accurate though.
dan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-10-20T07:52:19.890Z
This sentence has some problems, the "要" is completely unnecessary
BoomingBones
<translation><meaning-in-context>
Meaning of "集合论提供了要如何描述数学物件的语言" in an article on set theory
# Meaning of "集合论提供了要如何描述数学物件的语言" in an article on set theory

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-10-20)

Here is a sentence from the Baidu Baike article on [set theory 集合论](https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E9%9B%86%E5%90%88%E8%AE%BA/494533). I am trying to read this article using a dictionary because it has many words that I have not seen before.

> 在大多数现代数学的公式化中，集合论提供了要如何描述数学物件的语言。

> Zài dàduōshù xiàndài shùxué de gōngshìhuà zhōng, jíhélùn tígōngle yào rúhé miáoshù shùxué wùjiàn de yǔyán.

I am pretty sure that the first part translates to `In the formalization of most of modern mathematics, ...`.

I think that the second part translates to something *similar to* `set theory provides the language for describing mathematical objects`. For the second part, I am guessing based on context.

However, I don't know what 要如何 contributes to the meaning. Also, I don't know why 提供 appears with the perfective marker 了. The article *might* be saying that set theory *has provided* a language for describing mathematics, and describing a change in modern math from a historical perspective.

How do you actually translate this sentence? What are 了 and 要如何 contributing to its meaning?

**Tags:** translation, meaning-in-context

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: The sentence looks like a translation from another language(probably English). It might not be pretty accurate though.  
> **username_2**: This sentence has some problems, the "要" is completely unnecessary  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2021-10-20. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

集合论(set theory) is the subject.

提供了(provide) is the verb, where '了' marks the action as complete at the time we are talking about.

要如何描述数学物件(how to describe math objects) is an attributive clause that modifies '语言', the object.

This sentence is grammarly problematic though, it feels like google translated, 集合论提供了描述数学物件的语言 would be more natural.


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