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 #2 (permalink) Fri May 26, 2006 8:51 am Tend/incline |
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Hi Levent,
The difference beween these two verbs lies in their use or construction. You can be inclined to do something but you tend to do something
The underlying difference in meaning can best be seen in the corresponding nouns: tendency and inclination.
Tendency describes the way in which things happen. Inclination suggests both the way and the preference in which things happen.
Alan
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English as a Second Language
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Alan
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| #3 (permalink) Fri May 26, 2006 8:58 am Tend to/be inclined to |
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Tend to or be inclined (to do something) both mean to be likely (to do something), among other definitions. Inclined is an adjective here.
He is inclined to get angry if someone contradicts him; she is inclined to put on weight easily.
Noise tends to make him angry; he tends to forget what he has just said; this paper tends to go yellow. |
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Conchita
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| #4 (permalink) Fri May 04, 2007 22:08 pm Difference between "tend" and "incline" |
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| To be inclined. Why is it so? Why inclined is an adjective here? Can you say: She inclines to exaggerate? |
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 Snoopy_Blah_Blah
I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 01 May 2007
Posts: 39
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| #5 (permalink) Sat May 05, 2007 3:22 am Difference between "tend" and "incline" |
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| Good idea Snoopy, let's invent a new language! :). Kidding aside...someone long time ago decided to use "to be inclined" or "tend to"... |
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Diverhank
I'm here quite often ;-)
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| #6 (permalink) Sat May 05, 2007 5:46 am Difference between "tend" and "incline" |
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| diverhank wrote: |
| Good idea Snoopy, let's invent a new language! :). |
I'm afraid the language you're talking about was invented long time ago and is spoken by many... it is called "broken English". You should listen to my colleagues talk on the phone to their clients - you would hear many funny things;)
BTW, Can I say "I am given to assaulting people"
If yes, does it mean the same as "I am inclined to assault people" ?
Thanks |
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Lost_Soul
I'm a Communicator ;-)
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| #7 (permalink) Sat May 05, 2007 11:55 am Difference between "tend" and "incline" |
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Thank you for the explanation, lost_soul:)
And why did you, diverbank, pick on me? Aren't we all here to ask questions and learn? |
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Snoopy_Blah_Blah
I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 01 May 2007
Posts: 39
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| #8 (permalink) Sat May 05, 2007 14:36 pm Difference between "tend" and "incline" |
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| Snoopy_Blah_Blah wrote: |
| Can you say: She inclines to exaggerate? |
The verb 'incline' is not normally used like this. However, it can be followed by a noun. So, in a formal context, it is possible to say 'she inclines to exaggeration' or 'he inclines to fatness', for example.
| Snoopy_Blah_Blah wrote: |
| And why did you, diverbank, pick on me? Aren't we all here to ask questions and learn? |
I'm sure Diverhank didn't mean to criticise, Snoopy, but rather to be humorous.
By the way, I like your picture and hope you buried some of that huge bone for a rainy day!
| lost-soul wrote: |
BTW, Can I say "I am given to assaulting people"
If yes, does it mean the same as "I am inclined to assault people" ? |
Yes, you can. If you are given to doing something, you do it frequently. It has a very similar meaning to 'be inclined to do something', as I understand it. |
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Conchita
Language Coach
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| #9 (permalink) Sat May 05, 2007 15:05 pm Difference between "tend" and "incline" |
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Hello Conchita, and thank you very much for your kind response :)
I probably overreacted on diverbank's reply, because I only expected to have my question answered. |
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Snoopy_Blah_Blah
I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 01 May 2007
Posts: 39
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| #10 (permalink) Sat May 05, 2007 16:40 pm Difference between "tend" and "incline" |
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| I'm sorry Snoopy...It was a poor attempt at humor. I did try to answer your question. Hope you forgive me? |
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Diverhank
I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 25 Apr 2007
Posts: 364
Location: California, USA
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| #11 (permalink) Sat May 05, 2007 16:46 pm Difference between "tend" and "incline" |
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| lost_soul wrote: |
BTW, Can I say "I am given to assaulting people"
If yes, does it mean the same as "I am inclined to assault people" ?
Thanks |
I think I've seen "I am given to..." before but not very often...Lately, at least at work, bosses frown upon the use of passive voice...we are supposed to write everything in clear and concise English and passive voice is not usually clear. After a while, I try to avoid anything that looks like passive voice (silly huh?) so I wouldn't use "I am given" or even "I am inclined"...The key word here, however, is try to. I still use passive voice a lot -- force of habit. |
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Diverhank
I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 25 Apr 2007
Posts: 364
Location: California, USA
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