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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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Privateer
Joined: 31 Aug 2005
Location: Easy Street.
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 Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2012 9:06 pm Post subject: Grammar question - why are jobs so tricky? |
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Q: What is your ideal job?
A: My ideal job is artist.
What's the best way to explain to students why this is wrong? My thought process runs like this:
a) First off, it should be 'an artist'. But...
b) ...the statement 'My ideal job is an artist' is simply not true. 'My friend is an artist' would be an example of a possible sentence. But then...
c) ...what's the correct way to say what your ideal job is? 'My ideal job is that of/the job of an artist'. Correct, but a bit cumbersome. 'My ideal job is to be an artist'? Does that seem ok? Of course, we can get around this by paraphrasing, e.g. 'Ideally, I'd like to be an artist', 'For my ideal job, I'd like to be an artist', but I just want to make a simple sentence beginning with the subject 'My ideal job'! Should it perhaps be 'My ideal job is creating art'?
I believe the latter is correct. Thoughts, anyone? |
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The Cosmic Hum
Joined: 09 May 2003
Location: Sonic Space
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| Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 12:27 am Post subject: Re: Grammar question - why are jobs so tricky? |
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| Privateer wrote: |
Q: What is your ideal job?
A: My ideal job is artist.
What's the best way to explain to students why this is wrong? My thought process runs like this:
a) First off, it should be 'an artist'. But...
b) ...the statement 'My ideal job is an artist' is simply not true. 'My friend is an artist' would be an example of a possible sentence. But then...
c) ...what's the correct way to say what your ideal job is? 'My ideal job is that of/the job of an artist'. Correct, but a bit cumbersome. 'My ideal job is to be an artist'? Does that seem ok? Of course, we can get around this by paraphrasing, e.g. 'Ideally, I'd like to be an artist', 'For my ideal job, I'd like to be an artist', but I just want to make a simple sentence beginning with the subject 'My ideal job'! Should it perhaps be 'My ideal job is creating art'?
I believe the latter is correct. Thoughts, anyone? |
If you want it to be a simple sentence, your latter sentence covers that..but could be modified to the type of infinitive you mention in c)
My ideal job is creating art. (has some problem)
We had a thread on this construction not too long ago.
The problem with that construction...'is creating' can be seen as verbal.
It would be better to change the participle to the infinitive.
My ideal job is to create art.
And your
My ideal job is to be an artist. (perhaps even better as it reflects future)
Personally...this kind of construction feels a bit forced...using 'ideal'
If we can substitute ideal with dream...it is easier to see why.
What is your dream job?(dream job) (acting as compound noun with dream as the head noun)
My dream job is to be an artist. (good)
My dream is to be an artist. (good)
My job is to be an artist.(?)
compare with ideal...
What is your ideal job? (ideal - adjective) (job - head noun)
My ideal job is to be an artist. (ok...but ?)
My job is to be an artist.(?)
My ideal is to be an artist.(?)
Anyway...I think you have it down pretty well.
Not sure if my post is useful, but hope it helps. |
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YTMND
Joined: 16 Jan 2012
Location: You're the man now dog!!
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| Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 3:00 am Post subject: |
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I thought it was, "My ideal job would be....."
1. doing something with computers
2. to help the sick
3. to become a veterinarian
"Would" because you are imagining something. |
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FMPJ
Joined: 03 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 5:18 am Post subject: |
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A [linking verb] B
A and B have to match in kind. "Artist" is a person; "job" is not. Make them match and you're good to go: "My ideal job is butchering" NOT "my ideal job is butcher." |
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