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 #2 (permalink) Mon Jun 09, 2008 0:24 am Usage of "admit" |
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In "admit" something, the something is usually a verb.
Frankie admitted stealing the cupcakes.
Gwendolyn admitted breaking the dish.
In "admit to" something, the something is a noun phrase, but sometimes the noun is a gerund.
Frankie admitted to stealing the cupcakes.
Frankie admitted to the theft of the cupcakes.
Marina admitted to liking ABBA, but everyone else in the room denied it.
Marina admitted to a love of ABBA, but everyone else in the room denied it.
Note that admit + direct object + to can also mean to allow someone to enter something.
We can only admit four more people to the concert.
They admitted us to the event, but they didn't admit our other two friends.
Maybe someone else will have more tips. |
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Jamie (K)
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| #3 (permalink) Mon Jun 09, 2008 9:21 am Usage of "admit" |
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What's the difference in meaning between these?
I admit being wrong.
I admit to being wrong. |
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Molly
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| #4 (permalink) Mon Jun 09, 2008 11:25 am Usage of "admit" |
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| Molly wrote: |
What's the difference in meaning between these?
I admit being wrong.
I admit to being wrong. |
There isn't any. |
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Jamie (K)
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| #5 (permalink) Mon Jun 09, 2008 11:46 am Usage of "admit" |
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| Jamie (K) wrote: |
| Molly wrote: |
What's the difference in meaning between these?
I admit being wrong.
I admit to being wrong. |
There isn't any. |
Hm. I wonder why the BNC gives only 4 in 1 million words for "admit being" and yet 48 per 1 mill for "admit to being". Hm. |
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Molly
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| #6 (permalink) Mon Jun 09, 2008 11:51 am Usage of "admit" |
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| Molly wrote: |
| Jamie (K) wrote: |
| Molly wrote: |
What's the difference in meaning between these?
I admit being wrong.
I admit to being wrong. |
There isn't any. |
Hm. I wonder why the BNC gives only 4 in 1 million words for "admit being" and yet 48 per 1 mill for "admit to being". Hm. |
Some variants are preferred to others. Who can say. |
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Jamie (K)
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| #7 (permalink) Mon Jun 09, 2008 12:13 pm Usage of "admit" |
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| Jamie (K) wrote: |
| Some variants are preferred to others. Who can say. |
And what's your preference? What would you rather say ? |
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Lost_Soul
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| #8 (permalink) Mon Jun 09, 2008 12:19 pm Usage of "admit" |
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| lost_soul wrote: |
| Jamie (K) wrote: |
| Some variants are preferred to others. Who can say. |
And what's your preference? What would you rather say ? |
Like most of the herd, I'd prefer to say "admit to being, doing, etc.", but I have surely used the other form quite a few times in my life. |
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Jamie (K)
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| #9 (permalink) Mon Jun 09, 2008 22:04 pm Usage of "admit" |
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As a footnote:
| nessie wrote: |
- At last, the project was admitted by him to be a big success.
- She is admitted to have helped them very much.
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I think it's more usual for the subject in this structure to be either impersonal or inanimate; also, the agent is usually omitted. Thus:
1. The project was admitted to have been a big success.
2. It is admitted that she helped them very much.
(Though I would imagine that the tolerance of native speakers for such examples varies.)
Best wishes,
MrP |
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MrPedantic
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| #10 (permalink) Tue Jun 10, 2008 17:49 pm Usage of "admit" |
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Hi MrP,
Thanks a lot for your clear explanation :), but what about the difference between "admit to something" and "admit something", "admit doing something" and "admit to doing something"? Do you have the same idea as Jamie (Please excuse me. I just want to know a British's idea)
Thank you very much.
Nessie
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Sorry seems to be the hardest word... |
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 Nessie
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| #11 (permalink) Tue Jun 10, 2008 19:51 pm Usage of "admit" |
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Hello Nessie,
I think it's slightly different in BrE. Thus:
1. He wouldn't admit to stealing the tenor saxophone.
2. He admitted stealing the piccolo.
3. He admitted that he had stolen the gong.
4. He admitted the theft of the xylophone.
But I wouldn't be entirely comfortable with:
5. He admitted to the theft of the glockenspiel.
All the best,
MrP |
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MrPedantic
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| #12 (permalink) Wed Jun 11, 2008 5:06 am Usage of "admit" |
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| MrPedantic wrote: |
I think it's slightly different in BrE. Thus:
1. He wouldn't admit to stealing the tenor saxophone.
2. He admitted stealing the piccolo.
3. He admitted that he had stolen the gong.
4. He admitted the theft of the xylophone.
But I wouldn't be entirely comfortable with:
5. He admitted to the theft of the glockenspiel. |
Everything is the same for North Americans, except that I don't think most of us would have a problem with #5. |
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Jamie (K)
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| #13 (permalink) Wed Jun 11, 2008 16:25 pm Usage of "admit" |
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| MrPedantic wrote: |
Hello Nessie,
I think it's slightly different in BrE. Thus:
1. He wouldn't admit to stealing the tenor saxophone.
2. He admitted stealing the piccolo.
3. He admitted that he had stolen the gong.
4. He admitted the theft of the xylophone.
But I wouldn't be entirely comfortable with:
5. He admitted to the theft of the glockenspiel.
All the best,
MrP |
But... all these are just examples, I still can't see any "slight difference in BrE" you mentioned :shock:
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:(... something we never have again, I know... I guess I really really know.. :(
Sorry seems to be the hardest word... |
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Nessie
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| #14 (permalink) Wed Jun 11, 2008 22:29 pm Usage of "admit" |
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| nessie wrote: |
| But... all these are just examples, I still can't see any "slight difference in BrE" you mentioned :shock: |
Sorry! I meant the first 4, which reflect Jamie's earlier examples, are fine in BrE too; but I'm not sure about #5.
The structures are:
1. admit to [gerund]
2. admit [gerund/participle]
3. admit that he has/had done X
4. admit the [noun]
5. admit to the [noun]
MrP |
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MrPedantic
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