ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: carry on

Avangi — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 23:59:26 GMT

Hi Feebs,

I'm having trouble with the negative framing of the sentence. If the criminals continue / persist / prevail, the world will cease doing WHAT ??

Best regards, - A.

Re: carry on

Feebs11 — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 23:23:41 GMT

Surely in the context definition #3 is what he intended.

Re: carry on

Marius Hancu — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 16:52:54 GMT

>Sometimes "to carry on with" means to have relations, or intercourse with

my reading too

Re: carry on

Avangi — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 16:06:52 GMT

I guess English is Etheredge's native language. I've had a couple of friends who grew up learning English is Africa. They were very well educated, but phrased a few things differently.

I can't help thinking the interpretation you prefer is absurd. What could he possibly have in mind?

I've had no luck finding a non-romantic example of my usage, although I did find it as intransitive.

Re: carry on

New2grammar — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 15:48:23 GMT

Avangi

I'll admit you could make a case for "We can't go on like this. Criminals must be eliminated."

Yes, this is what I have in mind.

Avangi
I'm leaning toward, "The world cannot allow criminals to participate in the business of government."

I'm having difficulty interpreting it in this way but agree that it's not totally impossible.

It seems like the original sentence is an ambigous statement. Not a good one.

Re: carry on

Avangi — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 15:32:30 GMT

The definition I have in mind is similar to number 2, but may be colloquial. As applied to a love afair, A would be said to be carrying on with B. That is, my usage would be intransitive, while the usage in number 2 is transitive, a love affair being the direct object.

Etheredge is planning to fight the criminals, not negotiate with them. The interpretation you originally suggested sounds like he's saying, "If the criminals are given a voice, we may as well all give up."

I'll admit you could make a case for "We can't go on like this. Criminals must be eliminated."

I'm leaning toward, "The world cannot allow criminals to participate in the business of government."

- A.

Re: carry on

New2grammar — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 15:00:37 GMT

carry on

1. To conduct; maintain: carry on a thriving business.

2. To engage in: carry on a love affair.

3. To continue without halting; persevere: carry on in the face of disaster.

4. To behave in an excited, improper, or silly manner.

Avangi, are you pointing out the second definition?

Re: carry on

Avangi — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 14:57:09 GMT

Sometimes "to carry on with" means to have relations, or intercourse with (not sexual!) The world cannot continue to deal / negotiate with criminals.

It seems unrealistic to suggest that if criminals cannot be eliminated, the world must come to a grinding halt.

- A.

Re: carry on

Feebs11 — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 11:49:33 GMT

Yes.

carry on

New2grammar — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 11:37:47 GMT

"All I want to see is justice," said Richard Etheredge, 72, a white farmer who was evicted from his farm last month. "The world cannot carry on with criminals."
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/07/15/zimbabwe.farmers/index.html

What's the meaning of carry on here? continue?
Thanks.