Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 2 of 3 1 2 3
#161542 08/15/06 06:50 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
>
giant rap star

how big do they have to be to qualify as giant?

:¬ )


formerly known as etaoin...
#161543 08/16/06 10:57 PM
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154
Z
Zed Offline
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
Z
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154
or rap stars in giant pants even

#161544 08/17/06 10:22 AM
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
My exiguous, tiny little question: if there are any english verbes that are used both in an active as well as in a passive way still hangs out there . My hope was in experts or other fanatics.

This week's quotes seem to be every day in association with the justice and wisdom of power. At the not so positve actual state of these matters.

#161545 08/17/06 01:17 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Quote:

My exiguous, tiny little question: if there are any english verbes that are used both in an active as well as in a passive way still hangs out there . My hope was in experts or other fanatics.





There are so many I can't begin to count.

http://tinyurl.com/hx7jo

#161546 08/17/06 01:28 PM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
So, Anna--are you an expert or a fanatic?

#161547 08/17/06 02:20 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
I think he was asking after English verbs that are active in form, but passive in meaning. Latin has a whole slew of verbs that are passive in form but active in meaning. They are called deponent verbs: cf. amo 'I love' vs amor 'I am loved' with loquor 'I speak'. I'm not sure the first Dutch sentence is passive in meaning, but I'll take his word for it.


Ceci n'est pas un seing.
#161548 08/17/06 02:38 PM
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
[
There are so many I can't begin to count.

http://tinyurl.com/hx7jo




Ah! Dear Annie, it's not the same thing , it isn't the same.
For the passive form english needs an extra word!

To give - to be given , or give - was given. I know that system.

Maybe, there is a chance that I am mistaken, but I would need a dutch
exp. or fan. for that.
It's a little confusing.Let me see.
There is a saying:
Hollow barrels - sound - the loudest. (not a real english construction , but I try to keep the sentences as close as possible to eachother.)
Holle vaten - klinken - het hardst.

Here klinken is used in an active way.
I think I was wrong. The two klinkens are both active. They just have a different meaning.

It's the listener that is passive, but something/one always produces the sound. And the sound - klinken is an immaterial thing, while the toasting is material as long as the glasses hold.

#161549 08/17/06 06:15 PM
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Quote:

Latin has a whole slew of verbs that are passive in form but active in meaning. They are called deponent verbs: cf. amo 'I love' vs amor 'I am loved' with loquor 'I speak'. I'm not sure the first Dutch sentence is passive in meaning, but I'll take his word for it.




You took my word for it but I take it back, shame on me , I was wrong!In the first sentence in the first post it was not a passive form. The difference lies in the meaning of the word klinken itself. It's just a simple subject-verb-adverb sentence. Active.
I have more trust in your latin. And it's a she, not a he.

#161550 08/18/06 06:35 PM
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 456
addict
Offline
addict
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 456
What about 'said', as in, "It was often said that he said it aloud"?


ÅΓª╥┐↕§
#161551 08/18/06 09:16 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
What about 'said', as in, "It was often said that he said it aloud"?

No, was said is the passive formation in English.


Ceci n'est pas un seing.
Page 2 of 3 1 2 3

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,912
Posts229,283
Members9,179
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV, Heather_Turey, Standy
9,179 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 302 guests, and 2 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,510
LukeJavan8 9,916
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5