clear up my doubt/confusion

Question

More examples of dig out are needed to clear up my doubt/confusion about the meaning of dig out.I'm not so sure if the above sound right or not. If not, would you correct it to make it right? Thanks.

Feebs11 · Accepted Answer

AngliholicMore examples of dig out are needed to clear up my doubt/confusion about the meaning of dig out.

I'm not so sure if the above sound right or not. If not, would you correct it to make it right? Thanks.

More examples of dig out are needed to clear up my confusion about its meaning ~~of dig out.~~

Angliholic · Answer

Feebs11
AngliholicMore examples of dig out are needed to clear up my doubt/confusion about the meaning of dig out.

I'm not so sure if the above sound right or not. If not, would you correct it to make it right? Thanks.

More examples of dig out are needed to clear up my confusion about its meaning ~~of dig out.~~

Thanks, Feebs, for the correction.

As a small aside, why doesn't doubt do the trick in the context?

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Feebs11 · Answer

It could, but I think more context was needed to be sure which you wanted. I chose confusion.

Angliholic · Answer

Feebs11It could, but I think more context was needed to be sure which you wanted. I chose confusion.

Thanks, Feebs, for your reply.

Do you imply that there are a slight diferent value between clear up my doubt and confusion?

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Do you imply that there are a slight diferent value between clear up my doubt and confusion?

If I may, I'd like to make a comment about 'doubt', because the word is used a lot by learners in the Forum in a way that doesn't seem quite correct.

It's true that 'doubt' can mean a feeling of uncertainty. However, it commonly suggests what my dictionary calls 'an inclination to disbelieve'. In other words, a doubt is not simply a question. In general terms, it refers to a situation where you have an answer available, but you don't feel confident that it is the right answer. Let's consider a couple of simple non-grammar-related examples.

Wrong use - I have a doubt. Is Mary married? This is not a doubt. It's a question.

Right use - I have a doubt. Everyone tells me that Mary is married, but I think maybe she isn't. Here, you have told me the answer that you are inclined to disbelieve.

Now let's consider a typical post about grammar. Please help me. I have a doubt. Is 'table' a countable noun? This is not a doubt. It's a question.

Please help me. I have a doubt. My friends all tell me that 'table' is a countable noun, but I don't think it is. This correctly describes a doubt.

( In practice, instead of 'I have a doubt', we tend to say things like 'I have some doubt(s) about that' or 'I doubt that'. )

Best wishes, Clive

Angliholic · Answer

Thanks, Clive, for the bountiful and helpful explanation.

I get it now.

Pakistan123 · Answer

I can not go on doing nothing.

I thank thee, jew, for teaching me that word.

Is "doing" in the first sentence and "teaching" in the second sentence a gerund or participle?

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Welcome to the Forum

I can not go on doing nothing.

I thank thee, jew, for teaching me that word.

Is "doing" in the first sentence and "teaching" in the second sentence a gerund or participle?

Both are gerunds. In #1, it's like you are saying I cannot go on with doing nothing.

#2 is correct grammar but sounds odd and perhaps rather archaic. Today, we don't normally address anyone as 'jew'.

Next time you have a question, please start a new thread. Thanks.

Best wishes, Clive

Bokeh · Answer

CliveToday, we don't normally address anyone as 'jew'.

Did we ever? Was it once a pronoun? The only reference I can find in the dictionary is related to being a descendant of Jacob.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

The word is a noun, not a pronoun.

It's clearly being used as a form of address in the quoted sentence.

Clive

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