to photograph

<b>Forum for the discussion of Applied Linguistics </b>

Moderators: Dimitris, maneki neko2, Lorikeet, Enrico Palazzo, superpeach, cecil2, Mr. Kalgukshi2

Post Reply
Gabriel
Posts: 31
Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2005 5:01 pm
Location: Romania

to photograph

Post by Gabriel » Mon Oct 10, 2005 6:07 pm

Can we say "If she hadn't photographed naked she wouldn't be so upset now"

lolwhites
Posts: 1321
Joined: Wed Jul 16, 2003 1:12 pm
Location: France
Contact:

Post by lolwhites » Mon Oct 10, 2005 7:14 pm

No. I assume you mean If she hadn't been photographed... i.e. someone took photos of her when she was naked. Or do you mean she took photos of herself in a mirror? Is so, you need to add herself.

"To photograph" means "to take photographs" and it's a transitive verb.

JuanTwoThree
Posts: 947
Joined: Tue Sep 14, 2004 11:30 am
Location: Spain

Post by JuanTwoThree » Mon Oct 10, 2005 8:53 pm

So "I don't photograph well" doesn't also mean "I'm not photogenic" ?

Stephen Jones
Posts: 1421
Joined: Sun May 18, 2003 5:25 pm

Post by Stephen Jones » Mon Oct 10, 2005 9:07 pm

Can we say "If she hadn't photographed naked she wouldn't be so upset now"
You can, but you porobably shouldn't.

As Juan says it is an extension of a particular usage. Although there seems to be a tendency in English for an active verb to take on the meaning of its passive it leads to confusion and possibly amibiguity. Was she being photographed naked or walking around with a camera and no clothes on?

Gabriel
Posts: 31
Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2005 5:01 pm
Location: Romania

Post by Gabriel » Tue Oct 11, 2005 12:01 pm

Thank you!

Post Reply