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HSS Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

Carp, Harp

0Do the two verbs, looking similar, essentially convey the same sense to the listeners? 'Harp' only carries the sense of repeating something on and on, not so much a negative feeling on the part of the speaker as carp does, doesn't it?02br
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00I feel adding 'always' make the annoyance that the speaker or 'I,' for that matter, hold seem stronger. To make it sound more natural yet, should the construction be 'Hiro keeps carping/harping'?02br
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00[1] Hiro carps about the way I use chopsticks.02br
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00[2] Hiro harps on the way I use chopsticks.02br
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00Hiro0-
  

Top answer

1font 00Hi,02font 02br 02br 00Do the two verbs, looking similar, essentially convey the same sense to the listeners? 01font 00No02font 02br 02br 00'Harp' only carries the sense of repeating something on and on, not so much a negative feeling on the part of the speaker as carp does, 01font 00Correct02font 02br 02br 00I feel adding 'always' make the annoyance that the speaker or 'I,' for that matter, hold seem stronger. 01font 00 Yes.

— Clive

  • 1font 00Hi,02font 02br 02br 00Do the two verbs, looking similar, essentially convey the same sense to the listeners?
  • 01font 00No02font 02br 02br 00'Harp' only carries the sense of repeating something on and on, not so much a negative feeling on the part of the speaker as carp does, 01font 00Correct02font 02br 02br 00I feel adding 'always' make the annoyance that the speaker or 'I,' for that matter, hold seem stronger.
  • 01font 00 Yes.
  • 02br 02br 01font 00I think02font 01font 00 you have a good feeling for how to use these words.
  • 02font 02br 02br 01font 00Clive02font 0-
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3 Answers
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1font00Hi,02font02br
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00Do the two verbs, looking similar, essentially convey the same sense to the listeners? 01font00No02font02br
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00'Harp' only carries the sense of repeating something on and on, not so much a negative feeling on the part of the speaker as carp does, 
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0Thanks, Clive.02br
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00One last question:02br
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00I thought 'about' in 'harp on about' was omittable, and have omitted it in my daily speech. Is it required sometimes?02br
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00Hiro0-
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0Hi,02br
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00Good question. My dictionary says 'harp' is usually followed by either 'on' or 'about', but, as you can see, both come naturally to me. The use of both seems to add more emphasis.02br
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00Best wishes again, Clive0-
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