Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
to want; to command; to determine; to decide
section
encourage
will
broker
TOEIC prep test: Word games free: Online Verb Game Answer
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

with their lofty vocabularies?



 
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 Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
Beautiful vs Handsome | usage of ABOVE
Message Author
with their lofty vocabularies? Thu Mar 27, 2008 21:36 pm  with their lofty vocabularies?
 

How often do you use the word vocabulary in its plural form. I have heard the following sentence and wonder what it sounds like to you:

She could hear the government scientists with their lofty vocabularies talk down to the people and ensure them....
_________________
Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary
Torsten
Site Admin
Torsten Daerr

Joined: 25 Sep 2003
Posts: 7898
Location: EU

with their lofty vocabularies? Fri Mar 28, 2008 6:28 am  with their lofty vocabularies?
 

.
It sounds OK to me, Torsten. Of course, in this business, we use this unusual plural more often than do the hoi polloi. The particular example you present makes it clear that different scientists in different fields have different vocabularies-- and they are all lofty!
.
_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber
Mister Micawber
Language Coach
Mister Micawber

Joined: 17 Jul 2005
Posts: 4646
Location: Yokohama, Japan

Learn to use the present simple with the help of this short storyEnglish 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
with their lofty vocabularies? Fri Mar 28, 2008 10:39 am  with their lofty vocabularies?
 

Good morning Charles, thanks a lot for clarifying this!
_________________
Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary
Torsten
Site Admin
Torsten Daerr

Joined: 25 Sep 2003
Posts: 7898
Location: EU

with their lofty vocabularies? Fri Mar 28, 2008 14:53 pm  with their lofty vocabularies?
 

Note that here "vocabulary" means collection of words, not individual words. Many foreign speakers of English make the mistake of using the word "vocabulary" to mean "word", but it means a person's entire collection of words.
Jamie (K)
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 24 Feb 2006
Posts: 4407
Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA

Display posts from previous:   
Beautiful vs Handsome | usage of ABOVE
ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms with their lofty vocabularies? All times are GMT + 2 Hours
Page 1 of 1
Latest topics on English Forums
Expression: "Prince William has lost a tremendous amount of hair."increase or risethe person with the floor?Usage of 'call'Test of vocabulary: How many meanings of the words in the paragraph below?what is the meanig some time ago?an ability v.s. abilitymeaning of frizzed, frizzy or frizzdifferences between "trip", "travel" and "voyage"Usage of 'drop'All that into something'work at' vs 'work for'difference between "dream of" and "dream about"modalitiesUsage of 'pray'"I've finally broke free" isn't Past Participle?Annual Day Event special nameWhat does this phrase mean: "reak havoc"?with their lofty vocabularies?

Discover English-test.net
Meaning of 'deal'In the winter or in winterAnother contest: 'Good bad' AND 'bad bad'With Present perfect Continuous, not easy...SAT prep test: Word Vocabulary Games: Noun Adjective ListsSAT vocab test: Free word games: Online Nouns Adjectives GameDefine amour, missal, beau, stoicism, course, humanitarian, conservatismDefinition of job, police, list, month, lot, lamb, family, tax, weather, knifePronoun use: Finance (2)Vocabulary words business, teeth, baby, hand, tomorrow: English Slang Idioms (123)

 
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