Click here to play!

sweet things

Click here to play
   Share on Facebook  
Tung Quoc  #288837  Fri, 03 Nov 06 04:37 AM

Hi,

I like sweet things.

What does sweet things mean?

(Besides candies, can sb understand sweet things are girls, money...?)

Q

 
  
Top 75 Contributor
Joined on Sun, Sep 17 2006
Regular Member (870)
Clive  #288847  Fri, 03 Nov 06 05:49 AM

Hi,

I like sweet things.

What does sweet things mean?

It's hard to be sure without a context, but it probably just refers to candy, cake, ice-cream, things that contain sugar.

(Besides candies, can sb understand sweet things are girls, money...?)

In the right context, you can say this to a girl (I love you, you sweet thing). I wouldn't expect it to refer to money.

Best wishes, Clive

  
Top 10 Contributor
Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004
Canada
Veteran Member (20,464)
ModeratorTeachers
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
Davidleels  #288860  Fri, 03 Nov 06 06:29 AM
hi,Clive
you say (I love you, you sweet thing ) as an example,
it is obvious a lack of the verb there.I've met this kind of things in other situations too,Is that correct or just an informal expression?

thanks!
  
Not Ranked
Joined on Wed, Oct 25 2006
New Member (23)
Clive  #288862  Fri, 03 Nov 06 06:35 AM

Hi,

you say (I love you, you sweet thing ) as an example,
it is obvious a lack of the verb there.I've met this kind of things in other situations too,Is that correct or just an informal expression?

'Love' is a verb. Why do you say there is a lack of a verb?

Best wishes, Clive

  
Davidleels  #288864  Fri, 03 Nov 06 06:43 AM
but how to explain you sweet thing?
I am puzzled.
  
Clive  #288960  Fri, 03 Nov 06 02:28 PM

Hi,

but how to explain you sweet thing?

It's a 'structure' in which a noun is used to address a person directly.

Compare Be careful, Tom and Be careful, you idiot. These are both ways to address the person.

It's called the 'vocative' form. 

Best wishes, Clive

  
Tung Quoc  #288967  Fri, 03 Nov 06 02:56 PM

 

Is  Be careful, you idiot an ellipsis of Be careful, you are idiot ?

Q

  
Grammar Geek  #288975  Fri, 03 Nov 06 03:31 PM

No. All of these are examples of nouns - people whom the speaker could be addressing his comments to:

Tom
you idiot
sweetheart
you sweet thing
my beloved
you crazy man
wild thing

  
Top 10 Contributor
Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006
Pennsylvania, USA
Veteran Member (15,288)
ModeratorProficient Speaker
Barbara, who answers in American English.
AddThis Feed Button RSS Feed: ESL General English Grammar Questions
© 2008 MediaCET Ltd.
Terms and Conditions