Argument about the word dwindle

[Adam29]

My Friends And I Are Having An Argument About The Word Dwindle...Can A Person Make Something Dwindle???? Is The Sentence....Mrs. Jones Please Dwindle This List Down To 40 People Correct? Please Advise...Also Give Some Sort Of Credentials When Answering......need some expert advice

[Yankee]

Hi ADAM29, AND WELCOME TO THE FORUMS!

As far as I know, the verb 'dwindle' can only be used intransitively -- in other words, it does not take an object. Therefore you cannot dwindle something. Instead something simply dwindles.
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PS
Typing a post in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS is known as "shouting", and it's better not to shout in forums.
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Amy
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ESL teacher, and native speaker of American English

[Adam29]

Sorry about the caps...first time in a forum...It says on most sites i go to that it can be use as as transitive verb...would that make a difference in the argument?

[Yankee]

Hi Adam29

I've now checked some online dictionaries and I see that some of them also list "dwindle" as a transitive verb. However, I'd say that any usage as a transitive verb would be unusual in the active voice (as in the sentence you posted). If used transitively, I assume it would probably be mainly in a passive sort of construction such as this:

- MRS. JONES, PLEASE GET THIS LIST DWINDLED DOWN TO 40 PEOPLE!

However, I do think the verb 'dwindle' is primarily used intransitively.

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Amy
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ESL teacher, and native speaker of American English

[Adam29]

So is the sentence I typed grammatically correct or no? I understand it may not be used often the way I typed it....but is it incorrect?

[Yankee]

Hi Adam

One of the problems with trying to categorize things simply as "grammatically correct or not" is that you can build sentences which are perfectly correct grammatically speaking, but which are also completely nonsensical. Have a look at this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorless_green_ideas_sleep_furiously

There is more to language than grammar. Among other things, usage, meaning and dialect should also be taken into account in order to determine "correctness". However, if all you want is for me (or someone else) to simply take sides and say "correct" or "incorrect", then I would categorize your original sentence as "incorrect".
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Amy
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ESL teacher, and native speaker of American English

[Lost_Soul]

[Yankee]

Hi Alex

I would guess that the average American has never heard that sentence before, and would also have no idea why someone would even say such a weird thing.

I agree, however, that Chomsky's "colorless green ideas" are extremely well-known in the world of linguistics.
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Amy
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ESL teacher, and native speaker of American English

[Ralf]

[Yankee]

Hi Ralf

Ah, so you Irish lads have a special fondness for that green sentence, do ya?
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Amy
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ESL teacher, and native speaker of American English

[Yankee]

[Ralf]

[Yankee]

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Inclinable lassies, Ralf? Were many so inclined?
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Amy
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ESL teacher, and native speaker of American English

[Skrej]

Perhaps the more important number is how many declined?
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Native speaker but not a perfect speaker.
But completely fluent in over six million forms of Teflese.

[Ralf]

Well, to call a spade a spade, the most favourable ones declined indeed. But if you picture the odds on a Friday night out in Dublin, a long shot can easily turn into a safe wager. Particularly just before closing time
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