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DIsbell
Joined: 15 Oct 2008
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 Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2011 9:15 am Post subject: |
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Consulting the COCA (corpus.byu.edu) for frequency:
take a rest: 70
take some rest: 3
get some rest: 226
Get some rest is a more commonly used expression, but "a rest" is a much more commonly used collocate for the verb take than "some rest".
If we compare "some rest" and "a rest":
a rest: 943
some rest: 338
Even considering the possibility of musical context in the COCA, it would appear that rest is quit often used as a countable, roughly as often as an uncountable when you consider the other potential determinant collocations (enough, etc).
Clearing up this "quantify the verb" mess:
| Quote: |
Example.(countable) Any relief from exertion; a state of quiet and relaxation.
"We took a rest at the top of the hill to get our breath back"
In this case it would be fine because you are quantifying the verb. |
In the example sentence, "We took a rest at the top of the hill to get our breath back.", "to get our breath back" is a subordinate clause. "at the top of the hill" is a prepositional phrase, complement to the verb phrase "took". Subordinate clauses, by definition, are not necessary for a sentence to be complete, and prepositional phrases are not necessary either ("I threw a ball in the box" still functions as a complete sentence when you remove "in the box"). Remove them, and we are left with "We took a rest", the independent clause, which in the present tense command form is "take a rest." |
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NYC_Gal 2.0
Joined: 10 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2011 5:45 pm Post subject: |
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| DIsbell wrote: |
Consulting the COCA (corpus.byu.edu) for frequency:
take a rest: 70
take some rest: 3
get some rest: 226
Get some rest is a more commonly used expression, but "a rest" is a much more commonly used collocate for the verb take than "some rest".
If we compare "some rest" and "a rest":
a rest: 943
some rest: 338
Even considering the possibility of musical context in the COCA, it would appear that rest is quit often used as a countable, roughly as often as an uncountable when you consider the other potential determinant collocations (enough, etc).
Clearing up this "quantify the verb" mess:
| Quote: |
Example.(countable) Any relief from exertion; a state of quiet and relaxation.
"We took a rest at the top of the hill to get our breath back"
In this case it would be fine because you are quantifying the verb. |
In the example sentence, "We took a rest at the top of the hill to get our breath back.", "to get our breath back" is a subordinate clause. "at the top of the hill" is a prepositional phrase, complement to the verb phrase "took". Subordinate clauses, by definition, are not necessary for a sentence to be complete, and prepositional phrases are not necessary either ("I threw a ball in the box" still functions as a complete sentence when you remove "in the box"). Remove them, and we are left with "We took a rest", the independent clause, which in the present tense command form is "take a rest." |
I love you. |
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wintermute
Joined: 01 Oct 2007
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| Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 1:35 am Post subject: |
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| Lonewolf wrote: |
| This is why I don't like this sentence. I took many English writing and Speech classes in College. I would venture to guess if I ever wrote a sentence like this my paper would be bleeding red from my Professors red pen. |
Are you repressing memories of abuse at the hands of your professor? That could explain your strong feelings about the issue.
Sorry, couldn't resist. 
But seriously, "Have a rest" is like saying "have a coffee". Quite clearly the author of those statements is talking about countable things - in the first case a discrete period of rest, in the second, a cup of coffee.
From observing similarities to myself, I think there may be a little bit of ego in the OP. A little bit of judgement. A sense of one party being more educated, and well, better, and the other party being ignorant to the point of annoyance.
Not judging that, just pointing out that judgment is a double edged sword - putting yourself above someone also implies putting yourself below others, unless you are the best in the world, and if you feel contempt for those below, you must secretly fear the contempt of those above for you... and maybe be a bit sensitive to criticism....  |
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Lonewolf
Joined: 02 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 2:02 am Post subject: |
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| wintermute wrote: |
| Lonewolf wrote: |
| This is why I don't like this sentence. I took many English writing and Speech classes in College. I would venture to guess if I ever wrote a sentence like this my paper would be bleeding red from my Professors red pen. |
Are you repressing memories of abuse at the hands of your professor? That could explain your strong feelings about the issue.
Sorry, couldn't resist.
But seriously, "Have a rest" is like saying "have a coffee". Quite clearly the author of those statements is talking about countable things - in the first case a discrete period of rest, in the second, a cup of coffee.
From observing similarities to myself, I think there may be a little bit of ego in the OP. A little bit of judgement. A sense of one party being more educated, and well, better, and the other party being ignorant to the point of annoyance.
Not judging that, just pointing out that judgment is a double edged sword - putting yourself above someone also implies putting yourself below others, unless you are the best in the world, and if you feel contempt for those below, you must secretly fear the contempt of those above for you... and maybe be a bit sensitive to criticism.... |
I let this subject go a few days ago. As far as education goes I have a Bachelors of Business and a Masters in Education. I just said, I didn't like the sentence and I pointed out why. If I want psychobabble I'd go to a shrink. I'm sure there are things on this board that most of you do not like or agree with but that is not my problem. I find that everyone who is trying to annoy me is as you would say. " Being ignorant to the point of annoyance." |
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flakfizer
Joined: 12 Nov 2004
Location: scaling the Cliffs of Insanity with a frayed rope.
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| Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 5:03 am Post subject: |
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| Lonewolf wrote: |
| I find that everyone who is trying to annoy me is as you would say. " Being ignorant to the point of annoyance." |
Don't be overwhelmed. Try to understand. Some overbearing posters will try to undermine you over and over till you buckle under.
But you can overcome them. |
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Zyzyfer
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: who, what, where, when, why, how?
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| Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 7:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Lot of drama in this thread! |
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adzee1
Joined: 22 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 8:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| I let this subject go a few days ago. As far as education goes I have a Bachelors of Business and a Masters in Education. I just said, I didn't like the sentence and I pointed out why. If I want psychobabble I'd go to a shrink. I'm sure there are things on this board that most of you do not like or agree with but that is not my problem. I find that everyone who is trying to annoy me is as you would say. " Being ignorant to the point of annoyance." |
You did not say that you didnt like it, you said it was "wrong" to say "take a rest" which people have now proved to you that it is not wrong. You also said you would knock 100 points from the IQ of someone who uses this phrase which I find quite arrogant and certainly...
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| ignorant to the point of annoyance |
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Lonewolf
Joined: 02 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 8:31 pm Post subject: |
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| adzee1 wrote: |
| Quote: |
| I let this subject go a few days ago. As far as education goes I have a Bachelors of Business and a Masters in Education. I just said, I didn't like the sentence and I pointed out why. If I want psychobabble I'd go to a shrink. I'm sure there are things on this board that most of you do not like or agree with but that is not my problem. I find that everyone who is trying to annoy me is as you would say. " Being ignorant to the point of annoyance." |
You did not say that you didnt like it, you said it was "wrong" to say "take a rest" which people have now proved to you that it is not wrong. You also said you would knock 100 points from the IQ of someone who uses this phrase which I find quite arrogant and certainly...
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| ignorant to the point of annoyance |
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You, really are a drama queen. Give it a rest. Truth be told no one really cares. |
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adzee1
Joined: 22 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 9:33 pm Post subject: |
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You, really are a drama queen. Give it a rest. Truth be told no one really cares.[/quote]
Except for you that is, my sentiments exactly. Remember you were the one who was annoyed, not me.
Last edited by adzee1 on Sun Dec 11, 2011 9:53 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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ewlandon
Joined: 30 Jan 2011
Location: teacher
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| Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 9:36 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm going to go to every English forum on the web and post a topic about grammar and then sit back and watch the flame wars. lol |
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Lonewolf
Joined: 02 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2011 11:49 pm Post subject: |
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| adzee1 wrote: |
| You, really are a drama queen. Give it a rest. Truth be told no one really cares. |
Except for you that is, my sentiments exactly. Remember you were the one who was annoyed, not me.[/quote]
Now you're just showing how much of a newbie troll you are. Quit you're crying. Troll  |
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adzee1
Joined: 22 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 12:23 am Post subject: |
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| Lonewolf wrote: |
| adzee1 wrote: |
| You, really are a drama queen. Give it a rest. Truth be told no one really cares. |
Except for you that is, my sentiments exactly. Remember you were the one who was annoyed, not me. |
Now you're just showing how much of a newbie troll you are. Quit you're crying. Troll [/quote]
Great use of the English language! Im so offended  |
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tigershark
Joined: 13 Aug 2009
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| Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 6:13 am Post subject: |
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| sucks to your asthmar!! |
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Squire
Joined: 26 Sep 2010
Location: Jeollanam-do
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| Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 6:40 am Post subject: |
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| The OP clearly knows his stuff, but he's a lot pickier than most. The expressions that drive me crazy (I read them on here constantly) are 'could care less' instead of 'couldn't care less' and any reference to kool aid. Not that there's anything incorrect about the second one, but it's not funny- it's retarded. So is everyone that uses it. |
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The Cosmic Hum
Joined: 09 May 2003
Location: Sonic Space
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| Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 7:51 am Post subject: |
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| flakfizer wrote: |
| Lonewolf wrote: |
| I find that everyone who is trying to annoy me is as you would say. " Being ignorant to the point of annoyance." |
Don't be overwhelmed. Try to understand. Some overbearing posters will try to undermine you over and over till you buckle under.
But you can overcome them. |
Considering the title of this thread...
Brilliant post!  |
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