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Lev Landau Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
Extend my hand?
Hi everybody,
According to my dictionaries, the "extend my/his/etc. hand" expression means "to offer to shake hands". But at the same tine, they explain "extend" alone as "to stretch out a hand or leg". So I'm wondering if "extend a hand" can be used to simply mean "to stretch out a hand"? For example: Does the following sentence make sense?:
_ I extended my left hand and grabbed an orange.
Could someone answer my question?
Thank you very much.
According to my dictionaries, the "extend my/his/etc. hand" expression means "to offer to shake hands". But at the same tine, they explain "extend" alone as "to stretch out a hand or leg". So I'm wondering if "extend a hand" can be used to simply mean "to stretch out a hand"? For example: Does the following sentence make sense?:
_ I extended my left hand and grabbed an orange.
Could someone answer my question?
Thank you very much.
Top answer
Yes, it makes sense. However, "reached out" would be more usual. g.
- Yes, it makes sense.
- However, "reached out" would be more usual.
- g.
- something from a novel) than a neutral factual description.
- This may have something to do with the juxtaposition of technical "extended" and informal "grabbed".
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5 Answers
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Yes, it makes sense. However, "reached out" would be more usual. Your version sounds more like creative writing (e.g. something from a novel) than a neutral factual description. This may have something to do with the juxtaposition of technical "extended" and informal "grabbed". However, it is quite a subtle point and may depend also on the wider context..
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"extend a hand" usually means to help someone in need, to give a helping hand.
You can extend your arm, because it can do the opposite (retract).
Physically, it is a little hard to extend the hand because it is fixed to the wrist. You can stretch your hand, that is to flex it to lengthen the muscles in the fingers, palm and wrist.
You can extend your arm, because it can do the opposite (retract).
Physically, it is a little hard to extend the hand because it is fixed to the wrist. You can stretch your hand, that is to flex it to lengthen the muscles in the fingers, palm and wrist.
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I think that "extending a hand" (in the literal sense asked about) can be achieved by moving the arm. At least, that's how I would normally understand it.
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GPYI think that "extending a hand" (in the literal sense asked about) can be achieved by moving the arm. At least, that's how I would normally understand it.That's true, but I wouldn't say it that way. I would say "I reached out with my left hand and plucked the juiciest orange from the tree."
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AlpheccaStarsThat's true, but I wouldn't say it that way. I would say "I reached out with my left hand and plucked the juiciest orange from the tree."Indeed, as I mentioned in my earlier reply.
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