AUTHORS' ANNEXE (English Language Discussions)

[mariana44]

But just how would those 3 nouns fit in a sentence--

I can understand something like--

Weather is not cold--it is windy. [1 noun--2 adjectives]

But no matter how I try I cannot get 3 nouns to make sense.

"Summer is not rain--it is sun"--that does not sound right.

Or is it me ???

[keithgood838]

Marian(a)
It is merely a punctuation exercise, not involving
proper sentences.
Let's replace the nouns in three to read:
A tomato is not a vegetable, rather it is a fruit.
I think 'rather' is a tautology, superfluous to requirements.
I hope this explanation helps.
Keith

[paul jh]

Keith: Here is my colleague's response:

" Please thank Keith for me. I'm very pleased to accept a ruling in verse from a fine member of the Matt Monro Forum.

I understand his espousal of a #5 without the "rather". I was trying to construct the sentence with "rather" because I like the word and think it is underused. Keith's point that "rather" is redundant here is well taken, though. I would need to put it in the form "A is C rather than B", I guess."


Marian: My colleague was writing something for a statistical report. I told him that you were struggling to come up with three nouns; he is looking for it and will send it to me.

[paul jh]

Here is my colleague's latest response with examples:


"Sorry, the actual sentence is pretty boring and obscure:

Note that this 'secondary filter' is a not a set of rules to apply against MAF addresses; rather, it is an inventory of MAFIDs to be removed from the universe.

Here are some simpler examples I came up:

The money is not a loan, it is a gift.

The color of the dress is not blue, it is red."

[mariana44]

Red and blue, are adjectives, not nouns--.

"The money is not a Loan, it is a gift " so that is fine.As is the "tomato is not a fruit etc." And I guess your friends example is ok--so I give in !!!

[keithgood838]

Hi Paul
Your colleague's response to my suggestion
has given me an idea.
I would be delighted to offer a gratuituous editing
service to forum members. Under the arrangement
I envisage, anyone grappling with a troublesome
yet important textual matter would be free to email
me on keithgood838@btinternet.com and I would
reply with my suggestions whereby the text might
be improved. It would be a labour of love as far
as I am concerned and it would be accompanied
by a solemn promise of sacrosanct confidentiality.
Keith

[paul jh]

Marian: I thought those colours were adjectives too, but my friend assured me they were nouns in that usage. The dictionary verified that colours are indeed nouns as well as adjectives. In his sentence, they are in fact nouns. (This guy is a genius, so I never doubt him.)

Keith: thanks for the offer of an editing service. May take you up on it sometime!

[keithgood838]

Hi again, Paul
Your friend is correct, colours can, in certain contexts,
also be nouns: red as in communist, and blue
as in whitener paradoxically. Of course you will know
that English is a flexible language having parts of speech
that fit into several categories. 'Round' is the most versatile word,
being a noun, verb, adverb, adjective and preposition.
I posted a verse on the topic earlier.
Keith

PS When we were discussing 'concord' recently
I read a newspaper review of Dan Brown's blockbuster,
The lost Symbol, in which the journalist pointed out that
the the author had, in an early chapter, paired a singular noun
with a plural verb. He went on to say, rather harshly,
that Dan Brown is the best-selling but worst-writing author.

[mariana44]

Yes I know that red and blue can be nouns---as in "This red is brighter than that red"--but in the context Paul used them, they were adjectives--because red and blue were desribing the colour of the dress.

[keithgood838]

You are right, Marian(a). Paul used the colour, red,
in a descriptive context, therefore as an adjective.
And as Robert Burns used it:
My love is like a red, red rose
that's newly sprung in June:
my love is like a melody
that's softly played in tune.
I wish Matt had recorded the poem/song.
Keith

[paul jh]

My friend was adamant that those colours were nouns. I initially doubted him, but it's difficult to win an argument with a genius. After I sent my most recent message late last Saturday, I woke up thinking that they are in fact adjectives, because they are describing the dress. I will have a word with my colleague when he returns to work tomorrow. I'm sure he will apologise for causing this forum disruption. But it's all in fun anyway.

[mariana44]

It all makes for interesting discussions Paul--so that can only be good.

[keithgood838]

I agree with Marian(a), Paul. These little exchanges
are grist to the debater's mill, entertainment and enlightenment
for everyone to enjoy.
Keith

[keithgood838]

Since our recent discussions have centred on nouns
and adjectives, I thought I should quote a capricious
manuscript extract on the subject on combinations that are
as familiar as long-standing loving partnerships:

COMPELLING COMPANIONS

Oh dear, they are hard to resist,
those adjectives that seem to insist
on accompanying certain nouns.

We decide by an acid test,
declare a vested interest,
and we always wear worried frowns.

Mercies tend to be tender,
isolation exists in splendour,
glories are not seen without crowns.

Keith Good


Note. It is recommended that palatable text be unimpaired
by stale concoctions (eschewed, rather than chewed,
sorry ) such as: agonising reappraisal,
blissful ignorance, concerted effort, gaping holes,
hard facts, pitched battles, total stranger or
occasionally, perfect stranger. Perfect?

[keithgood838]

I guess one way to distinguish between 'hyper'
and 'hypo' would be to say that we are in hyper mood
when listening to Matt Monro music, and in a hypo one
when we are not. However, this is not an escape route
towards avoiding yet another manuscript extract:

HYPER (above) & HYPO (below)

The contrasting prefixes can be confused,
yet there is no mystery as to how they are used:
think of hyper as a child who is over-active,
and hypo as one reticent and passive,
or hypertension, higher than normal blood pressure,
and hypotension, a low reading on the measure.

Keith Good

Note. A hypodermic needle is so called
because it reaches the hypodermis,
a layer of skin under the epidermis.
(Sorry if you have an injections phobia,
but the point must be punched home.)