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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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 Posted: Thu May 20, 2010 7:01 pm Post subject: |
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Where caution is especially needed is when the gerund/gerund phrase is used as a complement:
His hobby is collecting stamps.
It looks so darn similar to the continuous/progressive tenses.
Regards,
John |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Thu May 20, 2010 7:06 pm Post subject: |
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I could ask my students to draw a picture of a 'hobby.'
I personally picture it as a wooden horse on rockers - any other interpretations?
Hmmm. I'm possibly living in a different dimension tonight - or maybe I would just like to be! |
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fluffyhamster
Joined: 13 Mar 2005
Posts: 3292
Location: UK > China > Japan > UK again
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| Posted: Thu May 20, 2010 7:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Johnslat wrote: |
Where caution is especially needed is when the gerund/gerund phrase is used as a complement:
His hobby is collecting stamps.
It looks so darn similar to the continuous/progressive tenses. |
Well, how often do hobbies collect stamps?    
Edit: This has reminded me of a bit in Chalker & Weiner's Oxford Dictionary of English Grammar (that I think nicely complements  what I've been trying to say in all the above):
| Quote: |
complement 1 One of the five elements of clause structure, along with S, V, O and A. Typical complements of this type 'complete' the verb be or another linking verb, and are either adjectives or noun phrases, blah blah blah...
2 More widely, any element needed to 'complete' an adjective, preposition, verb, or noun; an example of COMPLEMENTATION.
(Chalker and Weiner then give a few examples of complements of adjectives and prepositions before moving on to those of verbs).
The complement of a verb, in this wider sense, is a very unspecific term, and can include not only complements in sense 1, but also adverbials, objects, non-finite verbs, and entire sentence predicates apart from the verb itself.
1961 R. B. Long* His sister is buying antiques will always be understood to have is buying as predicator and antiques as complement; His hobby is buying antiques...to have is as predicator and buying antiques as complement. |
*Long, R. B. (1961). The sentence and its parts: a grammar of contemporary English. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
Last edited by fluffyhamster on Thu May 20, 2010 7:30 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Thu May 20, 2010 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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By the way, one of my colleagues (a reserved Scottish chap) called something 'poxy' in the hearing of a Dutch colleague who also teaches English. Not being familiar with the term, she had the impression that it was a positive adjective - it sounds 'cute,' in fact.
We had to explain the origins of the word.....
but we've decided to officially christen the scruffy street cat that frequents our Language Centre courtyard 'Poxy.'
Sorry, OP, back to CELTA questions (and off of another curious topic, which seems to be English words that are very much open to curious interpretations). |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Thu May 20, 2010 7:14 pm Post subject: |
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Dear fluffyhamster,
OK, then - "His hobby is not collecting stamps."
Regards,
John |
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fluffyhamster
Joined: 13 Mar 2005
Posts: 3292
Location: UK > China > Japan > UK again
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| Posted: Thu May 20, 2010 7:33 pm Post subject: |
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Dear John,
My instinct is not to reply (or, to not reply) regarding negation.
But I'm definitely one of those who's counted not collecting stamps among my (non-)hobbies! |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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| Posted: Thu May 20, 2010 8:04 pm Post subject: |
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Spiral, are these all cries for help? If so can I recommend the following advice? Убийте ги всички!
PS That's Bulgarian, not Russian, wink wink nod nod. |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Thu May 20, 2010 8:48 pm Post subject: |
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Dear Sashadroggie,
Didn't you forget to add this:
Нека Бог я сортирате
Regards,
John |
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