Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mmstyle]

I'm having one of those days. I need someone to tell me if I am right or wrong and why, because I can't articulate it well.

The coat was made of mink.

I consider this a short and sweet correct sentence.

The coat was made up of minks.

Sounds strange, but it is the kind of thing people say all the time. As I have recently come across another situation that I asked about on Dave's, I got a very good answer in terms of British and American English.

Is the second one also grammatically correct? If yes, why does it sound weird? People do say this kind of thing all the time, and in other situations, it sounds more normal to me.

Thanks.

[son of coco]

[mmstyle]

It's being debated as to whether or not to give the student all points for the second sentence. If it is considered grammatically correct, I want to give him all the points. If it's not, I'd like to tell him why, even though he hears it all the time. He is a high level student.

[mmstyle]

double post.

[Easter Clark]

For clarity's sake just say "It was a mink coat."

"made of mink"= the focus is on the material / type of coat.

"made up of minks" = the focus is on the little animals from which the skins came.

Both are grammatically correct but the tone is not the same. Most people don't care about the little critters which comprise your coat.

[halfmanhalfbiscuit]

Made of mink (fur of one kind)
Made from many minks (many individual critters)

[mmstyle]

So, I could say it is correct, slightly different change of meaning?

[Triban]

We all know many minks were slaughtered to make your precious coat...but still, The coat was made of mink is the better choice.

[halfmanhalfbiscuit]

And then tell the ajumma who has asked you this very ostentatious and pedantic question "It smells of mink piss, nay, the piss of many minks"

[mmstyle]

Thanks all. Thanks to the debate, the CT decided to show me the full question, and it actually references the number of minks killed to make the coat (sorry Triban, not a specific number) so I went with full marks. Thanks for the quick input to all.

[Bramble]