ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: Feature

pieanne — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 16:11:18 GMT

Thank you, Mr M.

Re: Feature

Mister Micawber — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 14:35:40 GMT

I am not sure that I have followed this discussion well, but to me these are correct:

(1) 'The film features JD as a...' (active voice, transitive verb)
(2) 'JD features in this film as a...' (active voice, intransitive verb)
(3) 'JD is featured in the film as a...' ('featured' is a predicate adjective)

The passive form of #1, 'JD is featured by the fim as...', while grammatically possible and semantically interpretable, is unusual and unnatural in that we realize that the film itself did not do the featuring-- it was the writer and the director.

Re: Feature

pieanne — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 13:17:30 GMT

Yes, you're right...

Re: Feature

maverick88 — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 13:16:31 GMT

I believe that 'as' can be added after such a fragment. Let's wait for the teachers to dispel our doubts, Pieanne.

Re: Feature

pieanne — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 13:12:23 GMT

I haven't seen any example with "as" ... ?

Re: Feature

maverick88 — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 13:09:44 GMT

Yes. Nona mentioned this type of structure previously...look

Re: Feature

pieanne — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 13:01:31 GMT

Can I say JD features in the film as a ... ?

Re: Feature

maverick88 — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 12:53:18 GMT

Thanks, Nona.

Re: Feature

nona the brit — Mon, 07 Mar 2005 23:07:40 GMT

Oh I see, no that part is fine. It was the other question

2)
How would you say the sentence beneath by using 'feature' and not as in (1)?
"The film is characterized by JD's playing the main role (leading role?)"

that I couldn't really follow and there does not seem to be a way of using feature in it.

Re: Feature

maverick88 — Mon, 07 Mar 2005 22:23:03 GMT

Sorry, in my last message it was supposed to be 'in' insread of 'by', I've modified it. The examples you brough up here were explained previously, I understood them but you said that 'featured' isn't used in 'this way' after I posted:

1) JD is featured in the film as...

What's the mistake here?

It even suits your pattern:

He is featured in the film - yes

Re: Feature

nona the brit — Mon, 07 Mar 2005 22:17:54 GMT

He stars by the film - no.
He stars in the film - yes.
He is starred by the film - no
He is starring in the film - yes

He features by the film - no.
He features in the film - yes.
He is featured by the film - no
He is featured in the film - yes.

The film stars XX - yes.
The film features XX - yes.

Re: Feature

nona the brit — Mon, 07 Mar 2005 22:15:59 GMT

Re: Feature

maverick88 — Mon, 07 Mar 2005 22:07:10 GMT

Yes, he stars in the film -- that's the meaning it should have conveyed. What did you mean by 'doesn't work in this way'? As you said, he stars, he is pointed out; doesn't it mean that he is featured IN* the film?
Nona, I'd be grateful if you explained what exactly you meant.
Thanks.

Re: Feature

nona the brit — Mon, 07 Mar 2005 21:49:26 GMT

Featured does not work in this way. All it means is that he stars in the film.

Re: Feature

maverick88 — Mon, 07 Mar 2005 21:21:12 GMT

The film features James Dean as a disaffected teenager

Is the following correct and equivalent in its meaning?
1) JD is featured in the film as...

2)
How would you say the sentence beneath by using 'feature' and not as in (1)?
"The film is characterized by JD's playing the main role (leading role?)"

Thanks