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Fat_Elvis

Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Location: In the ghetto
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Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 8:15 pm Post subject: 'Take a rest' |
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I wasn't sure where to post this but as it's a question about Konglish I thought I'd ask here.
My students often say 'take a rest', which to my ears is wrong, I've never heard it, so I correct it. However when I looked this up in Michael Swan's Practical English Grammar and he says that take + noun (with a verb acting as noun) is common in American English eg 'take a break.'
Does anyone use this term, in any form of standard English? Does anyone actually say 'take a rest' or is this wrong? |
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bogey666

Joined: 17 Mar 2008 Location: Korea, the ass free zone
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Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 8:20 pm Post subject: Re: 'Take a rest' |
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Fat_Elvis wrote: |
I wasn't sure where to post this but as it's a question about Konglish I thought I'd ask here.
My students often say 'take a rest', which to my ears is wrong, I've never heard it, so I correct it. However when I looked this up in Michael Swan's Practical English Grammar and he says that take + noun (with a verb acting as noun) is common in American English eg 'take a break.'
Does anyone use this term, in any form of standard English? Does anyone actually say 'take a rest' or is this wrong? |
to me it sounds like something a Brit might say (though not being a Brit, it's merely a guess)
taking a break/ to take a break is perfectly standard American English
as is "taking a moment" (to catch one's breath... calm down. etc etc etc)
but Americans don't say "take a rest" - though they will often say - get some rest. (doesn't necessarily make it "wrong", but it's simply not used)
everyone would understand you, but they'd look at you in a strange manner.
Last edited by bogey666 on Thu Apr 24, 2008 8:22 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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yingwenlaoshi

Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!
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Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 8:20 pm Post subject: |
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Yes.
I'm going to go take a rest.
Also take a shower, take a piiss, etc.
Many Koreans, even some that have lived abroad, use "take" wrong a lot though. |
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waynehead
Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Location: Jongno
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Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 8:20 pm Post subject: |
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It's awkward, but not incorrect in my opinion, and I'm American btw. That's usually difficult to communicate so I just let it pass.
My guess would be that it's the literal translation of some phrase in Korean meaning the same thing, and that's why we hear it so much. But of that I am unsure. |
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Chris_Dixon
Joined: 09 Jan 2008
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Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 8:20 pm Post subject: |
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Its a common expression in New Zealand. I'm going to take a rest. |
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bogey666

Joined: 17 Mar 2008 Location: Korea, the ass free zone
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Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 8:23 pm Post subject: |
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Chris_Dixon wrote: |
Its a common expression in New Zealand. I'm going to take a rest. |
Interesting.. I knew I heard it somewhere.. but Americans wouldn't say it that way.
they take a nap
they GET some rest. |
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mnhnhyouh

Joined: 21 Nov 2006 Location: The Middle Kingdom
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Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 8:25 pm Post subject: |
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waynehead wrote: |
It's awkward, but not incorrect in my opinion, and I'm American btw. That's usually difficult to communicate so I just let it pass.
My guess would be that it's the literal translation of some phrase in Korean meaning the same thing, and that's why we hear it so much. But of that I am unsure. |
I havent seen the take part in Korean, more just rest 쉽다
So you might see 다리가 아파서 쉽니다. My legs are sore so I am resting. (I think).
h |
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yingwenlaoshi

Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!
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Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 8:30 pm Post subject: |
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I'm gonna rest for a bit. I probably don't say "take a rest." Nothing wrong with it though. I probably never even say "rest." Or hardly ever. |
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Fat_Elvis

Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Location: In the ghetto
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Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 8:34 pm Post subject: |
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It seems like only Kiwis say it, so it must be wrong  |
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nobbyken

Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Location: Yongin ^^
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Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 8:49 pm Post subject: |
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I hear that when a class is cancelled.
'Take a rest.'
I wouldn't say it myself. I would say, 'Have a rest.'
I would use take a rest, if telling someone to stop doing something energetic, for while.
Just my thoughts, but it is very common. Application may differ from region to region. |
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moosehead

Joined: 05 May 2007
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Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 2:52 am Post subject: |
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I'm taking a rest right now  |
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schwa
Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap
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Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 3:25 am Post subject: |
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I take "take a rest" to mean actually lying down & maybe having a nap. I suppose it could also mean "take a break" but in my vernacular (Canadian) the Korean usage is a bit jarring:
"What did you do on the weekend?" "I took a rest."
I'm thinking "I took it easy" or "I just relaxed" would be more natural. |
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bacasper

Joined: 26 Mar 2007
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Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 3:51 am Post subject: |
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schwa wrote: |
I take "take a rest" to mean actually lying down & maybe having a nap. I suppose it could also mean "take a break" but in my vernacular (Canadian) the Korean usage is a bit jarring:
"What did you do on the weekend?" "I took a rest."
I'm thinking "I took it easy" or "I just relaxed" would be more natural. |
I'm American and we use it the same as "take a nap."
nobbyken wrote: |
I hear that when a class is cancelled.
'Take a rest.' |
Me, too, and here it sounds wrong because I don't believe my Kotex is telling me to take a nap. Here I'd say, "Have a rest" or "You can relax this period. You don't have to teach." |
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WoBW
Joined: 07 Dec 2007 Location: HBC
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Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 3:51 am Post subject: |
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I thought using "take" was more of an American thing: "Take a shower", "Take a dump."
We Brits tend to say "Have a rest." "Have a shower" and so on. |
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gypsyfish
Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 6:50 pm Post subject: |
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People from the USA certainly do say take a rest. |
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