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 Mon Apr 28, 2008 19:33 pm new usage of "understand"? |
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| Yankee wrote: | | Ralf wrote: | Hi Molly,
It all depends on the context. Isn't it great that native speakers like Alan are as kind as to help you with their 'native-speaker examples'? |
Hi Ralf
You know, that sounds a bit as if you have elected yourself to be the Great Decider -- i.e the one decides who may or may not ask questions and what the questions are permitted to be. |
Hi Amy,
As much as I'd love to understand your comment, my instincts fail me on this matter. What on earth made you think I'd possibly want to permit or prohibit questions 
However, I don't feel like having pointless debates about that type of nonsense.
I'd much rather like to tell you that I feel obliged to express my deepest and sincerest respect for your constant and untiring efforts to help learners of English and your devotion to the course of (American) English as such.
It's good to have you around, Amy.
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Learn more: How to Become an English Teacher |
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Ralf
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| Mon Apr 28, 2008 20:17 pm new usage of "understand"? |
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| Quote: | | However, I don't feel like having pointless debates about that type of nonsense. |
However, this kind of nonsense is OK, right?
| Quote: | Hi Molly,
Taking up on Alan's well-intentioned piece of advice may help you become a more creative ESL speaker one day |
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Molly
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 12 Feb 2008
Posts: 3843
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Ralf
Language Coach
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Location: EU (Ireland and Germany)
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| Mon Apr 28, 2008 21:57 pm new usage of "understand"? |
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| May I suggest you keep your wellmeantness for others? |
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Molly
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 12 Feb 2008
Posts: 3843
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| Tue Apr 29, 2008 5:59 am new usage of "understand"? |
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I don't know but I'm so confused now. Please clarify these queries for me:
1/ Is the structure "understand to do something" used regularly in native and standard English?
2/ What is the use of that structure
3/ As for this sentence: "I can understand you wanting to buy this one",does it mean completely same as "I can understand that you want to buy this one"? And is this syntax regularly used in standard English? or just spoken English?
Many many thanks
Nessie |
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nessie
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| Tue Apr 29, 2008 6:45 am new usage of "understand"? |
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| Molly wrote: | Houston Chronicle:
'"I'm trying to get them to understand to pass the ball and create space for the other person. " One thing that could help the situation: Kukoc is left-handed and Pippen is right-handed. '
Could this be a "new" use? |
Hi Molly
I ran out of time earlier, but I did want to react to that sentence as well. To me, this is not a "new" usage -- at least not on this side of the pond. To me, it is (again) a usage that basically means this:
"I'm trying to get them to understand (that it is necessary) to pass the ball..."
I don't know that I'd classify this usage as extremely common, but it definitely isn't new or unusual to me.
Maybe this is just another difference between the Englishes in use on opposite sides of the Atlantic.
By the way, I found Alan's reaction to this sentence interesting:
| Quote: | | "It takes actors who really understand to communicate the humanity behind the procedures. " |
While he felt it was crying out for 'how to', I didn't sense that at all -- not even in a formal register. What I assumed was that "understand what" had already been made clear in the broader context.
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English |
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Yankee
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| Tue Apr 29, 2008 7:08 am new usage of "understand"? |
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| nessie wrote: | I don't know but I'm so confused now. Please clarify these queries for me:
1/ Is the structure "understand to do something" used regularly in native and standard English?
2/ What is the use of that structure |
Hi Nessie
As I mentioned to Molly, I have heard "understand to do something" used to mean "understand that it is necessary/important to do something". To me, it is a standard usage, but I don't think you will see it nearly as often as combinations such as "understand something" or "understand that/what/why/how to".
Of course, you might also see "understand to do" when a sentence is worded this way, for example:
- That is what I understand to be the case.
| nessie wrote: | | 3/ As for this sentence: "I can understand you wanting to buy this one",does it mean completely same as "I can understand that you want to buy this one"? And is this syntax regularly used in standard English? or just spoken English? |
I might reword that sentence this way:
"I can understand your desire to buy this one".
The use of the possessive adjective is generally considered to be formally correct. In other words, "... understand my/your/his/her/our/their wanting to buy..."
However, the following are widely used instead: "... understand me/you/him/her/us/them wanting to buy...".
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English |
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Yankee
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| Tue Apr 29, 2008 8:39 am new usage of "understand"? |
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| Quote: |
"It takes actors who really understand to communicate the humanity behind the procedures. "
While he felt it was crying out for 'how to', I didn't sense that at all -- not even in a formal register. What I assumed was that "understand what" had already been made clear in the broader context. |
Yes, I think Alan parsed it as I did, i.e. incorrectly. It is as you say:
"It takes actors who really understand/ to communicate the humanity behind the procedures. " |
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Molly
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 12 Feb 2008
Posts: 3843
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