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Usenet Posted 23 years ago
Usage
Await and wait
I was trying yesterday to explain the nuance of difference between "await" and "wait" to a person whose first languag was Mandarin. I had, at her request, corrected her syntax when she said: "I wait you here." I pointed out that in addition to the use of "will", a "for" was part of the conventional collocation. I then added that it was also possible to say "I will await you here."
I explained that this usage was a little more affected and sometimes used when the coming event was of some substantial significance (or ironically when one sought to underline that it wasn't.)
Is there a better explanation?
Chrissy
I explained that this usage was a little more affected and sometimes used when the coming event was of some substantial significance (or ironically when one sought to underline that it wasn't.)
Is there a better explanation?
Chrissy
Top answer
[nq:1]I was trying yesterday to explain the nuance of difference between "await" and "wait" to a person whose first languag ... ) Is there a better explanation? Chrissy[/nq] I thought about this a few minutes, and afraid to make a fool of myself, I'm doubtlessly on my way to doing so, but, perhaps one other distinction is using "await" escapes the necessity of a prepositional phrase.
- [nq:1]I was trying yesterday to explain the nuance of difference between "await" and "wait" to a person whose first languag ...
- ) Is there a better explanation?
- Chrissy[/nq] I thought about this a few minutes, and afraid to make a fool of myself, I'm doubtlessly on my way to doing so, but, perhaps one other distinction is using "await" escapes the necessity of a prepositional phrase.
- 2.
- It's dated, and perhaps is used formally between lords and servants.
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16 Answers
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[nq:1]I was trying yesterday to explain the nuance of difference between "await" and "wait" to a person whose first languag ... of some substantial significance (or ironically when one sought to underline that it wasn't.) Is there a better explanation? Chrissy[/nq]
I thought about this a few minutes, and afraid to make a fool of myself, I'm doubtlessly on my way to doing so, but, perhaps one
I thought about this a few minutes, and afraid to make a fool of myself, I'm doubtlessly on my way to doing so, but, perhaps one
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[nq:1]I was trying yesterday to explain the nuance of difference between "await" and "wait" to a person whose first languag was Mandarin.[/nq]
Await - transitive verb Wait - intransitive verb
Isn't it as simple as that?
-- Alec McKenzie (Email Removed)
Await - transitive verb Wait - intransitive verb
Isn't it as simple as that?
-- Alec McKenzie (Email Removed)
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[nq:2]I was trying yesterday to explain the nuance of difference between "await" and "wait" to a person whose first languag was Mandarin.[/nq]
[nq:1]Await - transitive verb Wait - intransitive verb Isn't it as simple as that?[/nq]
Not quite. See www.m-w.com -- Skitt (in Hayward, California) www.geocities.com/opus731/
[nq:1]Await - transitive verb Wait - intransitive verb Isn't it as simple as that?[/nq]
Not quite. See www.m-w.com -- Skitt (in Hayward, California) www.geocities.com/opus731/
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>
Such explanations should mention that "await" is in a category of words that they need only recognize when they see it in classic literature or historical romances, but they should never use it themselves. Indeed, few Americans speak the word and most never write it. It is a "don't try this at home" word.
Now we need a word for the above.
-- -- Richard Maurer To reply,
Such explanations should mention that "await" is in a category of words that they need only recognize when they see it in classic literature or historical romances, but they should never use it themselves. Indeed, few Americans speak the word and most never write it. It is a "don't try this at home" word.
Now we need a word for the above.
-- -- Richard Maurer To reply,
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Wait can be a transitive verb
eg wait your turn
-- www.englishdaily626.com
[nq:1]I was trying yesterday to explain the nuance of difference between "await" and "wait" to a person whose first languag ... of some substantial significance (or ironically when one sought to underline that it wasn't.) Is there a better explanation? Chrissy[/nq]
eg wait your turn
-- www.englishdaily626.com
[nq:1]I was trying yesterday to explain the nuance of difference between "await" and "wait" to a person whose first languag ... of some substantial significance (or ironically when one sought to underline that it wasn't.) Is there a better explanation? Chrissy[/nq]
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[nq:1]Wait can be a transitive verb eg wait your turn[/nq]
Is that really transitive? Surely what's happening there is this:
Wait (until it's) your turn
Wait (for) ten minutes
(Trimmed to AUE only)
Ross Howard
Is that really transitive? Surely what's happening there is this:
Wait (until it's) your turn
Wait (for) ten minutes
(Trimmed to AUE only)
Ross Howard
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(Email Removed) top-posted in reply to:
[nq:2]I was trying yesterday to explain the nuance of difference between "await" and "wait" to a person whose first languag was Mandarin. I[/nq]
[nq:1]Wait can be a transitive verb eg wait your turn[/nq]
And I'll await a response indicating why your use of wait is more transitive. If anything I'd have thought that await was used in many more tra
[nq:2]I was trying yesterday to explain the nuance of difference between "await" and "wait" to a person whose first languag was Mandarin. I[/nq]
[nq:1]Wait can be a transitive verb eg wait your turn[/nq]
And I'll await a response indicating why your use of wait is more transitive. If anything I'd have thought that await was used in many more tra
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[nq:1]Wait can be a transitive verb eg wait your turn[/nq]
Surely that is an elliptical form of "Wait for your turn"?
-- Cordially, Eric Walker My opinions on English are available at http://owlcroft.com/english/
Surely that is an elliptical form of "Wait for your turn"?
-- Cordially, Eric Walker My opinions on English are available at http://owlcroft.com/english/
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[nq:2]Wait can be a transitive verb eg wait your turn[/nq]
[nq:1]Is that really transitive? Surely what's happening there is this: Wait (until it's) your turn Wait (for) ten minutes (Trimmed to AUE only)[/nq]
M-W calls it transitive and cross-references "await." AHD4 is even more so: "To remain or stay in expectation of; await: wait one's turn." . That's certainly one way to look at it.
[nq:1]Is that really transitive? Surely what's happening there is this: Wait (until it's) your turn Wait (for) ten minutes (Trimmed to AUE only)[/nq]
M-W calls it transitive and cross-references "await." AHD4 is even more so: "To remain or stay in expectation of; await: wait one's turn." . That's certainly one way to look at it.
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[nq:1]M-W calls it transitive and cross-references "await." AHD4 is even more so: "To remain or stay in expectation of; await: wait one's turn." . That's certainly one way to look at it.[/nq]
That's misleading. It's not grammatically a synonym of "await":
*I'm waiting news
In fact, "wait your turn" is the only example I can think of where it could be transitive and how transitive
That's misleading. It's not grammatically a synonym of "await":
*I'm waiting news
In fact, "wait your turn" is the only example I can think of where it could be transitive and how transitive
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