Search results for 'tag:Nouns tag:Metaphors' matching tags 'Nouns' and 'Metaphors'

Re: create another stir up

Avangi — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:21:55 GMT

In my experience, "stir up" is not a common "compound noun." "Mix up" is, but doesn't fit your application.

The verb usage is much more common. "He stirred up a whole bunch of crap" (pardon the vernacular). "He really stirred something up when he opened this particular can of worms!" (mixed metaphor)

"He really created a buzz" is acceptable, but I don't think it has the negative connotation you're looking for. Buzzes can be good as well as bad.

- A.

Re: Paragraph

Grammar Geek — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:12:41 GMT

Ignore my comment about the giant. I was just trying to think of a metaphor for you. I didn't mean giant, the adjective, but giant, the noun. Your computer is a giant in its power - it's just a small size.

My light brown table supports the intelligent computer system at the opposite side of bed. This sounds like the table is on one side of the bed and the computer is on the other - clearly not right..

If a stool is "lying" it sounds like it's on its side. Just say it's resting or standing.

You do NOT seperate the subject from the verb with a comma.

Re: Paragraph

Cute572 — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 21:46:17 GMT

Hello Grammar Geek, thanks for helping me here!

Well I donât understand the previous post. Giant size, are you saying about speaker size I should emphasis for metaphor?

My light-brown table placed on the opposite side opposite side of the bed from what? of the bed,Don't seperate the subject from its verb lifts wrong word- supports, or holds my intelligent computer system.

My light brown table supports the intelligent computer system at the opposite side of bed.

NOW the sentence agree with subject and verb? Is any thing u can suggest me to make this sentence attractive ?

Sorry at the end sentence, I forgot to add noun "Stool", I see a small, round [can i use word "fragile" instead of round here?] stool, lying on my bright carpet.

Also I want to know, in non essential clauses, subject is separated from verb. Why is that?

Re: rephrase doubts

Clive — Sat, 03 May 2008 14:56:56 GMT

Hi,

(1) What has sensitized me in more recent years from this metaphor is to also say to us that everyone faces storms. Sometimes, those storms come out of huge systems. They may be a tornado or an avalanche or maybe a car accident, when "there is innocence"---no control, vulnerable to the context. No blame, just pain. Other storms come from bad choices, from addictive behaviors.

Is the usage " is to also say to us" ok? No, it's not. Please rephrase. The intended meaning of this phrase, and in fact the meaning of the whole sentence, is not clear. For example, what does it mean to say that something sensitizes someone from a metaphor?

If you wrote this sentence, you need to say it in another way.

(2) And so as I live and move and have my being on the face of this planet, I'm helped with this framework, with this paradigm, to say belief is in everyone's spirit. It's not just belief but it then begins to shape us, drive convictions in. And my appeal as we think about this important subject tonight, is that we not just think about belief, but we do so with a sense of humility, a sense of discernment, a sense of respect and regard for the people who believe differently than we believe or I believe.

Is the sentence construction "not just belief but it then begins to shape us" ok? Please rephrase. Again, the meaning is unclear to me. If you start with 'It's not just belief . . ', I would expect you to continue by telling me what it is, and not with a clause that starts with 'but'.

Say I'm helped by this framework, by this paradigm.

(3) So it's a positive initiative to invite people to respond to the good news and to move from outside to inside, in an initial encounter experience response to God.

Can a be inserted? Yes, you need to insert it. Please check whether the phrase "in an initial encounter experience response to God." makes sense and kindly rephrase No, don't make a very lengthy phrase like this by simply adding more and more nouns in front as adjectives. People just have to start guessing what you mean. You are the one who knows what you mean, so you are the one who is best equipeed to rephrase it.

Best wishes, Clive

English Basics

Steve689 — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 19:36:50 GMT

Hello, first time user here hoping his question is relevant!

I have been offered a job recently involving the use of clear/accurate english, hard copy, easily constructed sentences etc and even though my grasp of the english language is basically sound and i can string a coherent sentence together i feel i need to brush up on some of the basics i didn't have instilled in me fully whilst at school.

The points i am referring to are things like: pronouns, adverbs, nouns, conjugating, split infinitives, plural. Words i often read about or hear about but could not fully explain or admit to knowing the full meaning of. The reason i am asking this question is because i am searching for a book maybe that covers these areas and other basic useages of English to help me brush up and finally cut off these chains, for want of a decent metaphor!

Thanks in advance for any suggestions. Regards - Steve

Re: Commentary on Hamlet's soliloquy

Clive — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 22:28:49 GMT

Hi,

Where you have put semi-colons, I'd usually use commas. I have also suggested some other changes to your punctuation. My general advice is not to get into the habit of using semi-colons and colons. They can often make tyour meaning more obscure rather than more clear.

You seem to have a very good understanding of this topic. I've broken up your one huge paragraph into two. Are there any other ways you can make your organization clearer to the reader?

Best wishes, Clive

Commentary on "To Be or not to Be"

In this soliloquy Hamlet sparks an internal philosophical debate on the advantages and disadvantages of existence, and whether it is one's right to end one's own life. He first asks himself thoughtfully whether it is nobler to bear the miseries of life or to take arms against them; but since both passive and active resistance are doomed to failure, he regards death as a mean to end oneâs sorrows once and for all. He sees death from a Medieval perspective, as physical liberation from the prison of the body (the âmortal coilâ); but he also symbolizes the doubt of the Renaissance man, concerning the after life. Indeed he faces an obstacle, that is to say the fear of âwhat dreams may comeâ in that sleep of death. If death were like a dreamless sleep, it would be easy to put an end to the misfortunes of life with a single stroke, but since we donât know what to expect in the afterlife, we havenât courage enough commit suicide. He says that the troubles of life are such that no one would willingly bear them, but our cowardice makes us âbear those ills we have / than fly to others that we know not ofâ.

In his soliloquy, Hamlet uses various gramatical structures to express his uncertainty, such as the infinitive forms. His speech takes shape slowly because of its thoughtful nature. The climax is reached when Hamlet lists the injustices and miseries of life, concluding that it would only take a small does his word 'mere' mean 'small' or does it mean 'unimportant'? knife to bring relief. He also uses metaphors, such as that of the mortal coil, that of the unknown country from where no traveller comes back, and that of the opposition between the pale cast of thought and the native hue of resolution. This one in particular helps us understand that for Hamlet courage is the ability to cross the border between life and death; but most people are cowards and this cowardice, through âthe pale cast of thoughtâ, makes us stay alive. The soliloquy elevates Hamletâs individual case to an universal level; this is achieved through the use of the plural pronouns 'we' and 'us', the indefinite 'who', and the impersonal infinitive. Its problematic nature is shown by the insistent use of interrogatives, while the internal struggle within Hamletâs mind is pointed out by the use of images from the battle-field (âslings and arrowsâ, which has become an idiomatic expression, and âto take arms against a sea of troublesâ). In the middle of the soliloquy we can find an enumeration of lifeâs misfortunes; while reflecting upon the nature of death Hamlet uses a repetition (âto die, to sleepâ). Finally, we can find a term from the financial semantic field, âquietusâ.

Re: Commentary on Hamlet's soliloquy

MrPedantic — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 22:13:14 GMT

Hello Morningrise,

I've underlined some parts you may want to look at again:

Morningrise wrote:

Commentary on "To Be or not to Be"

In this soliloquy Hamlet sparks an internal philosophical debate on the advantages and disadvantages of existence, and whether it is one's right to end his or her own life. He first asks thoughtfully to himself whether it is nobler to bear the miseries of life or to take arms against them; but since both passive and active resistance is doomed to failure, he regards death as a mean to end oneâs sorrows once and for all. He sees death in a Medieval perspective, as physical liberation from the prison of the body (the âmortal coilâ); but he also symbolizes the doubt of the Renaissance man, concerning the after life. Indeed he faces an obstacle, that is to say the fear of âwhat dreams may comeâ in that sleep of death: if death were like a dreamless sleep, it would be easy to put and end to the misfortunes of life with a single stroke, but since we donât know what to expect in the afterlife, we havenât courage enough commit suicide. He says that the troubles of life are such that no one would willingly bear them, but our cowardice makes us âbear those ills we have / than fly to others that we know not ofâ. In his soliloquy, Hamlet uses various gramatical structures to express his uncertainty, such as the infinitive forms; his speech takes shape slowly because of its thoughtful nature. The climax is reached when Hamlet lists the injustices and miseries of life, concluding that it would only take a small knife to bring relief; he also uses metaphors, such as that of the mortal coil, that of the unknown country from where no traveller comes back and that of the opposition between the pale cast of thought and the native hue of resolution. This one in particular helps us understand that for Hamlet courage is the ability to cross the border between life and death; but most of the people is coward, and this cowardice, through âthe pale cast of thoughtâ, makes us stay alive. The soliloquy elevates Hamletâs individual case to an universal level; this is achieved through the use of plural pronouns 'we' and 'us', the indefinite 'who', the impersonal infinitive. Its problematic nature is shown by the insistent use of interrogatives, while the internal struggle within Hamletâs mind is pointed out by the use of images from the battle-field (âslings and arrowsâ, which has become an idiomatic expression, and âto take arms against a sea of troublesâ). In the middle of the soliloquy we can find an enumeration of lifeâs misfortunes; while reflecting upon the nature of death Hamlet uses a repetition (âto die do sleepâ). Finally, we can find a term from the financial semantic field, âquietusâ.

Best wishes,

MrP

Commentary on Hamlet's soliloquy

Morningrise — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:09:48 GMT

I have to write a commentary on Hamlet's most famous soliloquy; would someone point out the errors and give me suggestions for a better writing? Thank you a lot.

Commentary on "To Be or not to Be"

In this soliloquy Hamlet sparks an internal philosophical debate on the advantages and disadvantages of existence, and whether it is one's right to end his or her own life. He first asks thoughtfully to himself whether it is nobler to bear the miseries of life or to take arms against them; but since both passive and active resistance is doomed to failure, he regards death as a mean to end oneâs sorrows once and for all. He sees death in a Medieval perspective, as physical liberation from the prison of the body (the âmortal coilâ); but he also symbolizes the doubt of the Renaissance man, concerning the after life. Indeed he faces an obstacle, that is to say the fear of âwhat dreams may comeâ in that sleep of death: if death were like a dreamless sleep, it would be easy to put and end to the misfortunes of life with a single stroke, but since we donât know what to expect in the afterlife, we havenât courage enough commit suicide. He says that the troubles of life are such that no one would willingly bear them, but our cowardice makes us âbear those ills we have / than fly to others that we know not ofâ. In his soliloquy, Hamlet uses various gramatical structures to express his uncertainty, such as the infinitive forms; his speech takes shape slowly because of its thoughtful nature. The climax is reached when Hamlet lists the injustices and miseries of life, concluding that it would only take a small knife to bring relief; he also uses metaphors, such as that of the mortal coil, that of the unknown country from where no traveller comes back and that of the opposition between the pale cast of thought and the native hue of resolution. This one in particular helps us understand that for Hamlet courage is the ability to cross the border between life and death; but most of the people is coward, and this cowardice, through âthe pale cast of thoughtâ, makes us stay alive. The soliloquy elevates Hamletâs individual case to an universal level; this is achieved through the use of plural pronouns 'we' and 'us', the indefinite 'who', the impersonal infinitive. Its problematic nature is shown by the insistent use of interrogatives, while the internal struggle within Hamletâs mind is pointed out by the use of images from the battle-field (âslings and arrowsâ, which has become an idiomatic expression, and âto take arms against a sea of troublesâ). In the middle of the soliloquy we can find an enumeration of lifeâs misfortunes; while reflecting upon the nature of death Hamlet uses a repetition (âto die do sleepâ). Finally, we can find a term from the financial semantic field, âquietusâ.

Re: hang up, hang on

User_gary — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 13:20:16 GMT

Nona The Brit wrote:

You can't really extend this meaning to things such as books.

It's a metaphor that is pretty strongly grounded in reality. Imagine you take part in a sport. When you finish playing you'll store the equipment - in a lot of cases by hanging it on hooks. If you stop taking part in that sport, then you will hang up your equipment for the final time. This phrase uses this imagery. You have stored the equipment away for the last time as you are no longer going to be doing that equipment.

So, you can only 'hang up' nouns, not verbs (buying) and it's only used in limited cases - referring to the equipment used in the activity. It isn't restricted to sports, but there still needs to be a physical object you are putting away for the last time.

Thank you very much Nona the Brit. I got it.

Re: hang up, hang on

nona the brit — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 10:07:26 GMT

You can't really extend this meaning to things such as books.

It's a metaphor that is pretty strongly grounded in reality. Imagine you take part in a sport. When you finish playing you'll store the equipment - in a lot of cases by hanging it on hooks. If you stop taking part in that sport, then you will hang up your equipment for the final time. This phrase uses this imagery. You have stored the equipment away for the last time as you are no longer going to be doing that activity.

So, you can only 'hang up' nouns, not verbs (buying) and it's only used in limited cases - referring to the equipment used in the activity. It isn't restricted to sports, but there still needs to be a physical object you are putting away for the last time.