<b> Forum for those teaching business English </b>
Moderators: Dimitris, maneki neko2, Lorikeet, Enrico Palazzo, superpeach, cecil2, Mr. Kalgukshi2
-
Itasan
- Posts: 557
- Joined: Wed Nov 05, 2003 8:22 am
- Location: Yokohama, Japan
Post
by Itasan » Wed Mar 30, 2005 8:26 am
Are these all OK and do they mean the same thing?
1-1. He was advanced to the rank of general.
1-2. He was promoted to the rank of general.
2-1. He was advanced to Sales Manager.
2-2. He was advanced to Sales Manager.
Thank you.
-
fluffyhamster
- Posts: 3031
- Joined: Tue Oct 26, 2004 6:57 pm
- Location: UK > China > Japan > UK again
Post
by fluffyhamster » Thu Mar 31, 2005 10:13 pm
My intuitions tell me that 'promoted' can be passive, but that 'advanced' has more "active" connotations and thus would take more the active form here.
-
RolandTrego
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Wed Mar 23, 2005 8:23 pm
Post
by RolandTrego » Sat Apr 02, 2005 2:18 am
I agree with Fluffy, if indeed s/he means that one would more likely say He was promoted to general manager and He advanced to general manager.
-
fluffyhamster
- Posts: 3031
- Joined: Tue Oct 26, 2004 6:57 pm
- Location: UK > China > Japan > UK again
Post
by fluffyhamster » Sat Apr 02, 2005 3:15 pm
That is indeed what I meant with my somewhat convoluted phrasing, RT! Thanks for helping make things doubtless clearer for Itasan!

-
Richard
- Posts: 36
- Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2004 7:33 pm
Post
by Richard » Wed Jun 01, 2005 10:32 pm
In the American (U.S.) variety of spoken English, advanced would never be used in this sense. Only promoted would be used.