Search results for 'tag:Literature tag:Verbs' matching tags 'Literature' and 'Verbs'

Re: ..why do I have vs ..why I have

CalifJim — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:25:41 GMT

Yoong Liat
it would be nice to hear what the other native speakers have to say on this.

According to Radford (Transformational Grammar):

Direct speech: "Will I get a degree?" John wondered.

Indirect speech: John wondered whether he would get a degree.

Semi-indirect speech: John wondered would he get a degree.

(Semi-indirect speech is so called because it shares features of both direct and indirect speech: the inversion of direct speech and the backshifting of indirect speech, for example.)

Personally, I find that semi-indirect speech is used most often in three situations:

1. In extremely informal conversation.

2. As a literary device, often to portray the inner thoughts and feelings of a character.

3. By ESL learners who have no intention of being either extremely informal nor of contributing to English literature, but who are aiming for indirect speech and missing.

Semi-indirect speech (with its subject-verb inversion) has nothing whatever to do with the emphasis provided by do-support uninverted:

Semi-indirect: John is wondering does Susan like to dance.

Indirect with emphasis: John is wondering if Susan does like to dance.

Semi-indirect: You may wonder why do I have two cars.

Indirect with emphasis: You may wonder why I do have two cars.

Re: Him killed I!

Huevos — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:32:13 GMT

Anonymous
Is that correct? it seems wrong

It's not wrong. Normally in English sentences are ordered "Subject (S), Verb (V), Indirect Object (IO), Direct Object (DO)" but can run OSV, and, where pronouns are used in substitution of either the subject or object (e.g. your sentence) there are no word order constraints so OVS is possible. That said, such a construction is pretty unusual and almost certainly would be limited to use in literature for effect.

Re: Am I right?

CalifJim — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 06:16:20 GMT

wholegrain
from what reference book you learned that "but" has no meaning in the given context

Personally, I learned it from observation, not from a reference book. I am a native speaker, and I have read quite a few books over the years, and so I don't need to consult a reference book to understand the meaning or usage of this formulation any more than I need a reference book to understand hundreds of others.

I'm sorry, but I don't have a reference book to recommend that might contain information about this construction. It would have to be something of a historical nature, because this pattern so rarely occurs in modern English that the most of the more recent books probably don't even discuss it.

Later edit:

Take a look at Curme's English Grammar of 1925. There you will find a little discussion of but, but that, and but what as less common and older substitutes for that in contexts such as those we have been discussing. Note that nearly a hundred years ago (1925) a grammarian was already saying that these substitutes for that were falling into disuse. Here is one of his examples:

"It could not be doubted that (or now less commonly but, but that, or but what) his life would be aimed at."

And another: "I do not doubt, or Who doubts that, or now less commonly but, or but that, or but what, he will win."

_____

It appears to me that some of the typical historical uses of but that are those which occur after the negation or interrogation of the verbs doubt or deny or wonder.

Note also that neither Curme, nor any others I know of, say that but means only or merely or except or anything else in these patterns. but that is treated as a single unit -- a compound conjunction. You certainly don't find patterns like the following in the literature: I don't doubt [only / merely] that he will win. If you did, it would support the claim that but means only or merely. But I think it will be hard to find examples like that.

to out with one's private thoughts...

wholegrain — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:33:31 GMT

The Confidence Man - Herman Melville

http://www.online-literature.com/melville/confidence-man/10

Upon this, the good merchant, after staring long and hard, and then rubbing his forehead, fell into meditation, at first uneasy, but at last composed, and in the end, once more addressed his companion: "Well, I see it's good to out with one's private thoughts now and then. Somehow, I don't know why, a certain misty suspiciousness seems inseparable from most of one's private notions about some men and some things; but once out with these misty notions, and their mere contact with other men's soon dissipates, or, at least, modifies them."

what does he mean by "to out with one's private thoughts now and then"?

the verb "out" doesn't seem to have an object although it should and should be private thoughts.

Re: Some questions

Hoa Thai — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:35:38 GMT

1) skilled vs skillful

The word skilled is related to specialized training / education, while skillful is used to indicate proficiency.

2) what's the difference between a northern wind and a northerly wind?

From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, northern means "in or from the north", and northerly means "towards or in the north". Therefore, I would venture to say that the former is locationally related, and the latter is directionally connected. Native English speakers may have a better feel for the difference between the two of them.

3) blanket vs quilt

"A blanket is a large piece of woven material; a quilt is made of two layers of fabric with a layer of cotton, wool, feathers, or down in between, all stitched firmly together, usually in a decorative crisscross design." (www.answer.com). They are used as a covering for warmth. Some people also use a quilt for adornment.

4) I'm looking for a verb that describe actions such as: Change from Celcius degree to Farenheit degree or from meters to foot... Convert

5) I'm looking for a noun: Vietnamese ten graders are being divided into three_____. Students of _______ A major (ie: They learn these subjects more than others) in Math, Physics and Chemistry, students of _______ D major in a foreign language and Math and Literature, students of _____ C deosn't major in any particular subject... How can we fill in the blank with one word?

groups / group, classes / class, streams / stream.

Some questions

Belly — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 09:17:41 GMT

1) skilled vs skillful

2) what's the difference between a northern wind and a northerly wind?

3) blanket vs quilt

4) I'm looking for a verb that describe actions such as: Change from Celcius degree to Farenheit degree or from meters to foot...

Thanks in advance

Re: Singular or a plural verb with a collective noun?

Anonymous — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 05:23:52 GMT

Dear Marina, I am glad you care a lot for English plural forms of nouns. You are probably learning English as a Second Language.

The noun police is followed by a plural verb because it is a very big group of people. For one Individual, we talk of a Policeman or a policewoman. For the word Family, I need to check with other coleagues.

Chris, a Student

Kigali Institute of Education

Faculty of Arts and Languages

English and Literature With Education (Year III)

Re: awakened or awoke

Zhao_the_Passerby — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 07:18:21 GMT

From OALD:

awake / awaken / wake up / waken

Wake (up) is the most common of these verbs. It can mean somebody has finished sleeping:
What time do you usually wake up?
or that somebody or something has disturbed your sleep:
The children woke me up.
I was woken (up) by the telephone.

The verb awake is usually only used in writing and in the past tense awoke:
She awoke to a day of brilliant sunshine.
Waken and awaken are much more formal. Awaken is used especially in literature:
The Prince awakened Sleeping Beauty with a kiss.

Awake is also an adjective:
I was awake half the night worrying.
Is the baby awake yet?
Waking is not used in this way.

Re: visited + object OR visited + adverb of location

ClarkePeters — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 06:54:49 GMT

Thanks Clive,
This is my first foray into grammar with my adult students (I usually teach conversation, literature, news English and the like). So this question really threw me for a loop. I was teaching adverbs at the time (using "soon" in " I will visit Europe soon") so this is how the question came up.

Your examples are great.

What's the difference among influence, affect and impact (verbs)?

Hayatoukrama — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 23:03:17 GMT

These have overlapping meanings. I'd say that "affect" is the most general: causing a change or result in something. "The nearby ocean often affects our weather." "The recent tragedy really affected her."

I tend to use "influence" when there is a sense of control being exerted, especially when there is a specific result: "Your teachers often influence the direction your life takes." "Tolkien's stories influenced almost all subsequent literature in the genre of fantasy."

Use "impact" when there is a particular element of force involved; I'd say that "impact" also often indicates negative or unwanted influence. "The decline in the stock market impacted many people's plans for retirement."
be
Note that these are broad generalizations. You could often interchange these verbs and the sentences would still correct and natural.