Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[brunette]

when referring to people rather than language, is it correct to say "our Chinese" "your Italian"etc. instead of we Chinese, you Italian?
Thanks.

[ad-miral]

Can you give a sentence for examplifying?
_________________
If I say "I love you" to someone, then I also have to say "I also love everyone else inside you, I love the whole world because of you, I also love myself inside you." -- Erich Fromm, the Art of Love

[asterix]

We Chinese are proud of our long and interesting history.
You Italians are lucky to have so many ancient cities.

for example.

[redset]

Remember, we and you are pronouns and our and your are possessive adjectives - they have different functions and you can't use them interchangeably.

[brunette]

Thank u redset and asterix. I have always thought that "we Chinese" is the only correct way, as in "we Chinese never do things like that" "you American people always prefer the casual way"

But lately, more than one teacher told me that "our Chinese never do things like that" is also correct. I am totally confused. Who's wrong here, me or the teachers?

[asterix]

If you mean that your teacher would say, Our Chinese are proud of our heritage, then he is wrong.
If you are, say, the President of a company that has a number of Chinese people working for it, as well as a number of other nationalities, you could say, Our Chinese are the best workers.
If you are Chinese, and you are referring to your fellow Chinese, you say, We Chinese.
Unfortunately, not every teacher is always correct, and language always has difficult areas, even for native speakers.
When I was learning German, for example, I thought for many years that stumpf was the German word for, deaf. It actually means, dull, or stupid.
I think you can see how embarrassing such an error might be.

[ad-miral]

no it means "blunt"
_________________
If I say "I love you" to someone, then I also have to say "I also love everyone else inside you, I love the whole world because of you, I also love myself inside you." -- Erich Fromm, the Art of Love

[asterix]

Yes, it means blunt; also obtuse.
It is a word for many occasions.
I suppose you prefer doof, which is also pretty close to deaf.

[brunette]

I think I get ur point. Thank u so much, asterix!

[asterix]

You're welcome.

[CP]

[asterix]

I don't think stumpf is an adjective that applies to you, CP, but language can be a bit of a minefield.