one-legged

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Abil

#538304 Tue, 08 Jul 08 02:33 PM

He is one-legged. He lost his left leg during the war.

Is the sentence correct? How can I put this in one sentence? Thanks

Abil

Joined on Wed, Jun 11 2008

Regular Member (677)

phrase

optilang

#538306 Tue, 08 Jul 08 02:37 PM

He lost his left/a leg in during the war.

It is enough, if he lost his left leg, we presume, without any further information, that he has his right leg remaining.

He is one-legged, having lost/after losing his left leg during the war.

optilang

Joined on Tue, May 13 2008

Poland

Senior Member (2,100)

OptiNative British English Speaker Wherever I may roam, I'm still a Londoner.

Resume

Clive

#538307 Tue, 08 Jul 08 02:37 PM

Hi,
He is one-legged. He lost his left leg during the war.

Is the sentence correct? Yes.

How can I put this in one sentence?

He is one-legged because he lost his left leg during the war.

But I'd just say He lost his left leg during the war.

Best wishes, Clive

Clive

Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004

Canada

Veteran Member (20,467)

El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

Abil

#538325 Tue, 08 Jul 08 02:57 PM

Thanks Optilang and Clive.

One more question: Does "one-legged" sound indecorous in some way? Thanks

Abil

khoff

#538356 Tue, 08 Jul 08 03:46 PM

To me, there is nothing indecorous about "one-legged," but it sounds more natural preceding a noun than after "he is..." In other words, I would say "A one-legged man came into the room." but "He has only one leg" rather than "he is one-legged."

Sorry, I don't remember the grammar terms for the two different positions of adjectives. My guess is that the adjective after "he is" would be a predicate, but I'm really not sure. Embarrassed

khoff

Joined on Sun, Mar 6 2005

Denver, Colorado, USA, Earth

Senior Member (2,521)

Native speaker of American English (but not a grammar expert)

Grammar, Nouns, Predicates

Abil

#538428 Tue, 08 Jul 08 05:18 PM

Thanks khoff.

"He has only one leg" - this description is fine with me.

Abil

khoff

#538547 Tue, 08 Jul 08 10:54 PM

This thread reminds me of a sports event I saw years ago on TV, in which several one-legged men were competing against each other in a high-jump event. It sounds like a bad joke, but it was really an incredible thing to watch. After a series of preliminary hops, they would just spring up into the air and over the bar as if on a pogo stick. Amazing.

khoff

Jokes

Goodman

#538554 Tue, 08 Jul 08 11:11 PM

Hi Abil,
In certain context, I think it does carry a tone of being indecorous but I can't really nail it.
I wouldn't personally use it on a person though....
You may hear people making a reference of a table or a chair being "three- legged".

Goodman

Joined on Mon, Nov 7 2005

Calif. USA

Senior Member (3,090)

The name says it all!

Abil

#538614 Wed, 09 Jul 08 04:08 AM

Hi Goodman,

I agree with you. It will definitely sound indecorous if I address a person "hi one-legged"! which no one should do.

khoff,

Yes, physically challenged persons do amazing things. I saw a man with artificial legs taking part in a 100-metre run. He will run faster than any other average normal person. I do really admire them.

Abil

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