ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: for their foolishness

Peaceblinkfriend — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 08:56:26 GMT

You shouldn't feel ashamed. It takes an awful lot of time and effort to learn any language, espcially English, which I think is one of most constantly evolving languages with it's users being so diversed and it's ubiquitous spread and application.

PBF

Re: for their foolishness

New2grammar — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 08:37:48 GMT

If you are a victim of a trick, you may have been cheated and may feel foolish and upset. You just asked a good question. I've been wanting to learn the word for a long time but have to say it's not as easy as it sounds. I mean I've heard it many times but still don't know how to use it in the right situation. Shame on me.

Re: for their foolishness

Peaceblinkfriend — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 08:04:06 GMT

I don't know much about the nitty-gritties of the words but can a person be deemed as foolish if they have been tricked?

transitive verb
1 :to deceive by cunning or artifice : impose on, defraud, or cheat usually by specious means : affect or induce by deceit or trickery *trick another in a sale* *trick him into consent*
2 : to obtain or bring about by trickery *advertising designed to trick your purse*

intransitive verb
1 : to practice trickery or fraud
2 : to practice or play tricks or pranks : TRIFLE — usually used with with

(quoted from Merriam-Webter's Unabridged Dictionary)

What I mean is if a person is deceived by cunning or artifice, is it not only normal and natural that he or she be a victim of the trick? How would you be foolish if you were kept hidden form the truth and made believe a false idea?

I hope it makes sense.

Thanks

PBF

Re: for their foolishness

Vincent Teo — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 03:39:48 GMT

Oh, I saw the threads just now. Thanks your advice. Next time , I would post a whole text. Thanks!!

Re: for their foolishness

khoff — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 03:30:59 GMT

Vincent -- you have been posting a whole story one sentence at a time in separate posts. Did you see my reply yesterday, where I suggested that it's hard to understand the individual sentences without any context? It would be better if you posted a whole paragraph in one post.

Re: for their foolishness

Philip — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 02:07:41 GMT

I can't say that I understand the situation, but the sentence is correct.

for their foolishness

Vincent Teo — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 02:02:37 GMT

Can I say,

John laughed at them for their foolishness because they had been tricked.