Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
to take money from the bank; to retire; to remove
connote
treat
misunderstand
withdraw
full quiz correct answer
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   Album   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

Provocative vs. provoking



 
ESL/EFL Worksheets and Handouts for Students Printable, photocopiable, clearly structured
Designed for teachers and individual learners
For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
Yield to all and you will soon have nothing to yield | Like versus Enjoy
listening exercisestell a friend
Message
Author
Provocative vs. provoking #1 (permalink) Mon Jul 10, 2006 23:00 pm   Provocative vs. provoking
 

Hi,

Would you kindly let me know in what ways the adjectives 'provocative' and 'provoking' are different? According to the Oxford English Dictionary 'provoking' means 'provocative'. Does this mean that the words are synonyms in some instances?
Englishuser
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 06 Jun 2006
Posts: 806

Provocative vs. provoking #2 (permalink) Tue Jul 11, 2006 19:18 pm   Provocative vs. provoking
 

As far as I know, the adjectives 'provoking' and 'provocative' are synonyms in that they both make a reaction start. Yet the results can be different. 'Provoking' means 'annoying', 'exasperating', whereas 'provocative' can mean 'likely to provoke a violent response', 'deliberately provoking another's feelings, especially to anger or lust' or simply 'causing thought'.

It would be interesting to hear another opinion on this, though.
Conchita
Language Coach


Joined: 26 Dec 2005
Posts: 2826
Location: Madrid, Spain

Can you find all the prepositions in this story?English grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsAre you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!Read these English anecdotes and maybe smile today? Subscribe to free email English course
Provocative/provoking #3 (permalink) Tue Jul 11, 2006 19:29 pm   Provocative/provoking
 

Hi Englishuser,

To me the full-blooded adjective has to be provocative suggesting that the thing described is in a way challenging and asking for a response. A provocative statement/comment is deliberately crafted to encourage/force people to respond. Provoking as an adjective seems to me a lame thing because it is closely associated with the verb sense of trying to create a similar response. So we have: either a provocative statement or a statement provoking argument. Similarly: an evocative picture or a picture evoking a mood or feeling.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple
Alan
Co-founder
Alan Townend

Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 13891
Location: UK

Provocative vs. provoking #4 (permalink) Wed Jul 12, 2006 2:36 am   Provocative vs. provoking
 

Alan has given a perfect explanation. I completely agree with him.
Jamie (K)
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 6552
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA

Provocative/provoking #5 (permalink) Wed Jul 12, 2006 11:51 am   Provocative/provoking
 

The explanation from Alan is the best. He gave a clear and good explanation. I agree with him.
Mnd
I'm new here and I like it ;-)


Joined: 07 Jul 2006
Posts: 10
Location: Bulawayo

Provocative/provoking #6 (permalink) Thu Jul 13, 2006 22:57 pm   Provocative/provoking
 

Hi,
I don't understand anything from Alan's explanation.
I endure much more gentle professional Conchita's one.
Yours Faithfully
Happy Sailor Jan
Jan
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 01 Apr 2006
Posts: 319
Location: At sea

Display posts from previous:   
Yield to all and you will soon have nothing to yield | Like versus Enjoy
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Page 1 of 1
Latest topics on ESL EFL Forums
meaning of Smoothie"Langdon" vs "him"Expression: "...presence is punctuated..."Expression "Make the brunt..."Hi Alan, I am waiting for you reply for two my postings...Does the phrase 'a changeable person' make sense?Change and alterWhy do you think... VERSUS Do you think why..."Dead" versus "Death"Difference between 'talking books' and 'audio books'Meaning of scaled-backDifference between: You always say and You are always sayingSuffixes (-ing, -ive, -ivities)

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Subscribe to FREE email English course
First name E-mail