0
Anonymous Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
adjective puzzle
0 Hi -- Allan Hollinghurst has written a novel entitled "The Folding Star." Readers discover that this odd title doesn't refer to a star that folds, but rather to a star that shepherds rely upon to tell them when the flock must be gathered back to the fold. The difference in meaning (and a good way to detect whether your interlocutor has actually read the book!) is conveyed in the spoken emphasis: The FOLDing Star is correct, The Folding STAR is not. 02 br
02 br
00 My question is, have grammarians developed a way to distinguish between, and talk about, these two adjectival constructions? "Folding" is in either case an adjective modifying "star," yes? But the one (incorrect) meaning would be something like "a star that folds," while the other (correct) meaning would be "a star for folding" -- which I notice involves a gerund, does it not? Is this a clue? 02 br
02 br
00 Any elucidation will be much appreciated. 0-
02 br
00 My question is, have grammarians developed a way to distinguish between, and talk about, these two adjectival constructions? "Folding" is in either case an adjective modifying "star," yes? But the one (incorrect) meaning would be something like "a star that folds," while the other (correct) meaning would be "a star for folding" -- which I notice involves a gerund, does it not? Is this a clue? 02 br
02 br
00 Any elucidation will be much appreciated. 0-
Top answer
" Readers discover that this odd title doesn't refer to a star that folds, but rather to a star that shepherds rely upon to tell them when the flock must be gathered back to the fold. ) is conveyed in the spoken emphasis: The FOLDing Star is correct, The Folding STAR is not. 02 font 02 br 02 br 00 I don't think this is a great example, because the meaning of 'folding' as 'gathering back to the fold' is certainly unusual if not novel.
- " Readers discover that this odd title doesn't refer to a star that folds, but rather to a star that shepherds rely upon to tell them when the flock must be gathered back to the fold.
- ) is conveyed in the spoken emphasis: The FOLDing Star is correct, The Folding STAR is not.
- 02 font 02 br 02 br 00 I don't think this is a great example, because the meaning of 'folding' as 'gathering back to the fold' is certainly unusual if not novel.
- Perhaps a better example would be something like 'a moving van'.
- 02 i 02 br 02 br 00 meanong 2: 01 i 00 I thought all the traffic had stopped, but as I walked across the street I was hit by 01 b 00 a moving van 02 b 00 .
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
1 Answers
0
0 Hi, 02 br
02 br
01 font 00 Allan Hollinghurst has written a novel entitled "The Folding Star." Readers discover that this odd title doesn't refer to a star that folds, but rather to a star that shepherds rely upon to tell them when the flock must be gathered back to the fold. The difference in meaning (and a good way to detect whether your interlocutor
02 br
01 font 00 Allan Hollinghurst has written a novel entitled "The Folding Star." Readers discover that this odd title doesn't refer to a star that folds, but rather to a star that shepherds rely upon to tell them when the flock must be gathered back to the fold. The difference in meaning (and a good way to detect whether your interlocutor
0
Related Questions