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#2 (permalink) Sat Feb 14, 2009 6:34 am Hope to get this conversation going |
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. Just too long a phrase to get good numbers of hits, I think. Seems OK to me. . _________________ Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's |
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Mister Micawber Language Coach
Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 13015
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#3 (permalink) Sat Feb 14, 2009 17:11 pm Hope to get this conversation going |
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Although its grammar seems fine, I wonder in what situation you would use this phrase? The word "this" probably indicates that the the person saying the phrase is actually in this conversation himself. But if he is talking about getting it going, it has not even started yet. And he probably would not say it as part of the pre-conversation anyway, because that would very awkward. That's why it may be an uncommon phrase as it is. It gets nearly impossible if "hope" stands for "I hope".
Perhaps you could use this phrase when writing a story: "Peter almost bumped into Mary in the refectory. He made an attempt at conversation, but he was so nervous he kept stumbling over his words. Nevertheless, he still had hope that she would like him. Hope to get this conversation going. To impress her with his wit and knowledge. Surely she must like him then!" |
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Cerberus™ I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 11 Feb 2009 Posts: 1342
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#4 (permalink) Sat Feb 14, 2009 17:23 pm Hope to get this conversation going |
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Please activate Javascript in your browser to listen to this audio recording | 173 Listened |
That sentence popped up when I was concluding a message and I wanted to convey that I would like to continue that (written) conversation. So, what do you think is appropriate there?
Even now, can I use -- hope to get the conversation (this one) going? (at this place?) _________________ First lesson - English, not english. I, not i. ~A student of English |
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Gray I'm here quite often ;-)

Joined: 21 Nov 2008 Posts: 978 Location: Proxima Centauri
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#5 (permalink) Sat Feb 14, 2009 17:27 pm Hope to get this conversation going |
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[Edit: I'm sorry, I hadn't read your reply yet when I wrote this.]
Or perhaps: "I run into my professor at the gym. We start talking. I try to gain his interest, hope to get this conversation going. But he seems rather in a hurry, and says he'd like to talk to me another time. I'll see him again in class anyway, so it doesn't really matter." A story written like a diary, where the protagonist's thoughts are given in the present tense and from the first-person perspective. |
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Cerberus™ I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 11 Feb 2009 Posts: 1342
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#6 (permalink) Sat Feb 14, 2009 17:34 pm Hope to get this conversation going |
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Hoping to get the conversation going implies that it might take some effort to start it off, that's why I wouldn't say it to someone. Why not say "continue", as came to you naturally when you just described it? "I hope we may continue our conversation" would seem a better, more natural choice. Or you could just leave it out and let the message speak for itself: if you wrote questions or stimulating remarks, the other person will surely continue the conversation. |
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Cerberus™ I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 11 Feb 2009 Posts: 1342
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#7 (permalink) Sat Feb 14, 2009 17:41 pm Hope to get this conversation going |
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Oh, that is really interesting -- being concise and still implying the continuity in the conversation.
By the way, what Cerberus is? _________________ First lesson - English, not english. I, not i. ~A student of English |
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Gray I'm here quite often ;-)

Joined: 21 Nov 2008 Posts: 978 Location: Proxima Centauri
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#8 (permalink) Sat Feb 14, 2009 19:48 pm Hope to get this conversation going |
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| Cerberus is the three-headed giant hound who guards the exit of the underworld against escaping souls in ancient Greek mythology. Cerberus is the Latinized form of Greek /Kerberos/. |
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Cerberus™ I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 11 Feb 2009 Posts: 1342
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#9 (permalink) Sun Feb 15, 2009 17:46 pm Hope to get this conversation going |
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| Cerberus™ wrote: |
| Cerberus is the three-headed giant hound who guards the exit of the underworld against escaping souls in ancient Greek mythology. Cerberus is the Latinized form of Greek /Kerberos/. |
Oh, now I know why computer security people borrowed "Kerberos" :) _________________ First lesson - English, not english. I, not i. ~A student of English |
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Gray I'm here quite often ;-)

Joined: 21 Nov 2008 Posts: 978 Location: Proxima Centauri
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#10 (permalink) Sun Feb 15, 2009 20:53 pm Hope to get this conversation going |
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| Ah, yes! I did not even know that, but I think you are right. |
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Cerberus™ I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 11 Feb 2009 Posts: 1342
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| meaning of "flipping fins" | adopt vs adjust |