Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[advoca]

Would any teacher help me please.

My Chinese students often use the expression: Something gave me a deep impression. I tell them this is wrong. I say you get a deep impression if you emboss something. I tell them they should say they got a favourable impression.

Am I wrong to correct them over this?

Advice would be welcome.

[LucentShade]

I'm not a teacher (of English), but after looking through some Google results for the phrase, I saw some uses that involved printing/embossing and other physical processes, but also many instances where it was used idiomatically, in the way that your students are using it. In my own experience, "X made a deep impression on me" is a valid way to say, "X had a profound impact that lasted long after the event was over." Also, "deep impression" can refer to a negative or traumatic experience, so "favo(u)rable" might not work in all cases.

Final verdict: Technically, you're probably right that "deep impression" doesn't really have the meaning that your students ascribe to it, but it's one of those phrases that is very often used "incorrectly" by English speakers.

Edit: After looking through it, I do believe that "made a deep impression on [ ]" is more correct. "Gave" isn't so common in this phrase.

[Bob S.]

A deep impression as a meaningful and lasting feeling is fine, but I would say it made an impression, not gave an impression.

Alternate forms:
It made a deep impression on me.
It was deeply impressive to me.
I was deeply impressed by it.
It deeply impressed me.

Favourably impressed or favourable impression is for something positive, but deeply impressed can be for something positive or negative.
_________________
"It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood." -- Karl Popper

[advoca]

Thanks everyone.

[BMO]

"It gave me a deep impression" is exactly the English translation of Chinese, word for word.

Thanks.

[clonc]