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Chan-Seung Lee
Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Posts: 1032
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 Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 7:34 pm Post subject: interpret |
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| Quote: |
1.I interpret your nod to mean that you agree with me.
2.I interpret your nod as agreement. |
I saw #1 in a book. But I think it incorect and instead #2 is correct.
Could you tell me if my opinion is right or wrong?
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dragn
Joined: 17 Feb 2009
Posts: 450
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| Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2009 9:27 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
1.I interpret your nod to mean that you agree with me.
2.I interpret your nod as agreement. |
In my opinion both are correct: I can easily imagine myself saying either one. The second is just slightly more "efficient" in the sense that it conveys the same information in fewer words.
The two basic patterns at work here are:
1. to interpret A to mean B
2. to interpret A as B
These both express essentially the same idea; the choice probably depends on context more than anything else.
Offhand, it seems to me that the second pattern might be favored if B is an idea that can be neatly and elegantly expressed as a single noun (such as agreement). Otherwise, the first pattern might be preferred. For example:
I interpreted Pam's frantic rush into the office to mean that she was late.  
I interpreted Pam's frantic rush into the office as lateness.  
The second sentence sounds very odd! Anyway, I'm actually a bit curious as to why you think the first sentence is incorrect.
Hope this helps.
Greg |
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