Strange Conversations: Part One Hundred and Two
Posted 14 March 2009 in Strange Conversations by Catriona
When we use verbs in different ways:
ME: Oh! Where did I put my gum?
NICK: You didn’t swallow it, did you?
ME: I . . . what? No, I meant the packet.
I’m still baffled by this. But Nick can’t understand why I’m baffled. So far, the only responses to my bafflement I’ve received have been “I really don’t understand why you have a problem with this” and “Stranger things have happened at sea, and you know it.”
Previously: Strange Conversations: Part One Hundred and One
Next: Tiny Water Dragon
Share your thoughts [3]
1
Tim wrote at Mar 15, 08:42 am
Isn’t it the noun that’s being used in different ways here?
2
Catriona wrote at Mar 15, 08:54 am
Yes, in a way. What immediately struck me, though, was that I really didn’t see how “put” could be used as a synonym for “swallowed,” even when one was discussing gum.
3
Tim wrote at Mar 15, 02:05 pm
Ah.