Expression: 'Discuss about' and 'wait!'

[NinaZara]

Hello,

1.Malaysian have the tendency to use 'discuss' with 'about'. To a native speaker, does this sound redundant?

We were discussing...
We were discussing about...

2. I always hear moms in Malaysia say "Wait!Wait!Wait!" when stopping their children from pursuing something. Again, how does this sound to a native?Shouldn't it be, "Wait up!" or "Hold on!"?

Thank you in advance.
Nina

[Yankee]

Hi Nina

The word 'discuss' should be used without the preposition 'about'. It seems to me that ESL students tend to mistakenly use 'discuss about' mainly because we do say 'talk about'.

I see nothing wrong with saying "Wait!" but your description does sound as though "Stop!" might be more (or at least just as) appropriate.

I'd use "Wait up" informally, for example, if I wanted some friends to stop walking temporarily so that I could catch up with them (i.e. so that we could all continue walking together).

"Hold on" can be used in a variety of situations to ask someone to pause or wait. You often hear this in telephoning situations, for example. To me, 'Hold on' often has the sense of 'Please wait while I do something else'.

Hope that helps.

Amy

[NinaZara]

[Yankee]

[NinaZara]

Putting 'is' is already a habit of mine but I think the last one sounds cool

Thank you very much, Amy.

[Yankee]

Hi Nina

These two expressions have different meanings:

1. I see nothing wrong with doing ...

2. I see nothing is wrong with doing ...

In my opinion, the difference is more or less as follows:

(1) This is my opinion. I cannot discern a problem.
(2) It has been decided (probably by someone else) that there is not a problem and I see (notice) the fact that this has already been decided.

Amy

[NinaZara]

Hmm, would it be the same without 'I see'?

1. Nothing wrong with... (I feel something lacking but will it still deliver 'This is my opinion' meaning to it?)

2. Nothing is wrong with...(Sounds ok to me but other than the 'has been decided' meaning, can it also deliver 'This is my opinion'? meaning to it)

Thanks again, Amy for taking the trouble to be as detailed as you can.

[Yankee]

Hi Nina

Maybe it would also be helpful to look at the two versions this way:

I see nothing (that is) wrong with ...
I see (that) nothing is wrong with ...

The difference is subtle, but for me it's definitely a difference.

Amy

[Haihao]

Oh I am getting so interested in this talking! I began to see the light at the end of a tunnel with:

[NinaZara]