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English question
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 8:14 am
by jtaylor
Can you say
"Phil is an initiative person",
in the same way as
"Phil is an innovative person"
"Phil initiates"
"Phil innovates"
Thoughts?
J
Re: English question
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 10:08 am
by J.R.
I can say both sentences, though I wouldn't try 'em after a few pints !
Re: English question
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 1:04 pm
by marty
It depends what you're trying to say. In the second sentence 'innovative' is used as an adjective wherease most people consider 'initiative' to be solely a noun rather than an adjective. I'd therefore take your first sentence to mean Phil likes initiative - it doesn't necessarily convey your intended meaning that he demonstrates initiative himself. To me it reads like 'Phil is a real-ale person' or 'Phil is a cricket person'. It seems to have a more passive slant to it and in my view is ambiguous as to whether Phil initiates or is simply an admirer of initiative.
Right, I'll shut up now.
Re: English question
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 8:37 pm
by nastymum
Anything goes.Apparently ( according to the news) this morning ,the police 'forensicated ' a crime scene. Jeepers.
Re: English question
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 8:43 pm
by midget
nastymum wrote:Anything goes.Apparently ( according to the news) this morning ,the police 'forensicated ' a crime scene. Jeepers.
Whoever thought up that one should be shot!
Re: English question
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 10:32 pm
by jtaylor
Thanks, some interesting replies!
One of staff said that we should "tangibleise" something today.
And Peter Jones, on the Dragons' Den this evening, said "take a new tact".....crikey, and he thinks he's a clever bloke!
J