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scintillatestar
Joined: 19 Oct 2009
Posts: 74
Location: New York, NY
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 Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 6:45 pm Post subject: Grammar Q |
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Hello,
How could I explain how this sentence is wrong?
She put the book ___.
Is it because concrete nouns need a modifier for spatial reference? Is there a proper "grammatical" way to explain this?
Thanks!! |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 7:15 pm Post subject: |
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Dear scintillatestar,
Five items are necessary in written sentences: 1. Capital letter; 2. Subject; 3. Verb; 4. Complete idea;'5. End mark
Your example
"She put the book ___."
lacks Number 4, a complete idea. An adverb or a prepositional phrase used adverbially (e.g. "down" or "on the table") is needed to impart a complete idea.
Regards,
John
Last edited by johnslat on Mon Sep 06, 2010 7:18 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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fluffyhamster
Joined: 13 Mar 2005
Posts: 3292
Location: UK > China > Japan > UK again
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| Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 7:16 pm Post subject: |
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The explanation involves the verb 'put' - in the sense here, its meaning is incomplete if an adverb/preposition isn't added (Put - the book - "where").
http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/put
From a practical viewpoint, all that the students themselves really need to grasp is the notion (translation? etc) of 'incomplete' (forget 'complementation' etc!) in relation to (just) 'put', and I'm sure that you'll be able to convey the basic semantics involved through the use of simple mime and gesture (?I > ?I put > ?I put the book > I put the book down/on the table/down on the table/down on the table with an almighty thump - it was the CGEL after all/etc).
"Bonus":
http://forums.eslcafe.com/teacher/viewtopic.php?t=2547&highlight=cat |
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