Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[hanygeorge38]

Dear Teacher,

I need your help in answering these questions ?

The word "thin" has a similar meaning in the following two sentences, but in each sentence it has a different opposite. What is the opposite of thin in each sentence?

a) The thin man likes to walk in the forest.

b) The blue crane is a bird with thin legs.

Genius Question: Kirstenbosch is an excellent place TO SEE proteas. Why do we use the infinitive form of "see" in this sentence?


I know that the opposit of the word thin of the first sentence
is fat what about the second sentence.

Thanks
_________________
hany

[LucentShade]

I would say that the opposite of "thin" in #2 would be "thick." "Thick" is more commonly used for non-human objects, like a thick tree trunk, a thick fog, or a thick coat. I think that "fat" could also be used in the second sentence.

For the genius question: The "to see" in the phrase expresses the idea of "for the purpose of" or "in order to." Example: The restaurant is a good place to eat, but it is not a good place to work.

In the first part, "to eat" expresses that it's a good place to go if you want to eat (for the purpose of eating). In the second part, it's a similar idea--the restaurant is not a good place as for people that want to get a job.

Other examples:

I work to have enough money to live.
He studies to get good grades.
They run to escape the wolves.