Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : SI Grammar and Spelling Lab -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Jacques Chitte who wrote (1036)	4/2/1998 6:30:00 PM
From: Rambi	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 4711

It IS troubling. Dream is very much like think. Don't you think or dream 'of' or 'about' something? That's why I was trying to think of words other than dream dreams, think thoughts.

To: Jacques Chitte who wrote (1036)	4/2/1998 7:33:00 PM
From: jbe	Respond to of 4711

To All: On the verb "to think," English verbs in general, Fowler's "The King's English" & etc. Now, first off: my original post on the direct object question stated that "to think" was intransitive when used in a specific sense; it was implied that in other senses it could be transitive. I quote: The verb "to think," when used in the sense of "to believe," "to suppose," is an intransitive verb. Hence, it cannot take a direct object! Ta Da!! So there! I now go on to challenge lexicographers in their den. I would maintain that "think" is truly transitive in a very limited number of cases (e.g., "I think thoughts," or, "Think nothing of it"). From the American Heritage Dictionary, which I have right here, let us take one definition, in which "think" is said to be transitive: "Often used with through or over, as in Think the matter through. No, no, Mr. Lexicographer! "Think" is one verb; "think over" is another; "think through" is still another. We confuse things because what in German, say, would be a prefix to a verb (gehen, AUSgehen, EINgehen, etc.), in English follows the verb, looking suspiciously like a preposition. This will become PERFECTLY CLEAR in the following comparison of English & Russian infinitives: ENGLISH: "To think" RUSSIAN: "Dumat" ENGLISH: "To think up" = "to UPthink" RUSSIAN: "VYdumat" ENGLISH: "To think through"= "to THROUGHthink" RUSSIAN: "PROdumat" And so forth. Actually, I really do believe it would be easier for foreigners to learn English if they understood the true nature of what for lack of a better term I will call "misplaced prefixes." In any event, upthink, throughthink, and overthink are all transitive verbs. Now, to Fowler. Penni, "The King's English" is a lot of fun, and very, very curmudgeonly (especially where American English is concerned). What I like most about it is that Fowler does not provide examples of CORRECT usage, but only of INCORRECT usage -- and they are all drawn from major writers (Dickens is a favorite whipping-boy). That gives hacks like myself the opportunity to feel superior. And now -- gimme a break, everybody! I can't take any more of this this excitement!! I have to finish my income tax tonight!!! Carry on!!!! jbe