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Pructus Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Give him to think
Hi,
The pattern of "give him to think", is it grammatically correct?
If it's correct, what does it mean?
I assume that this pattern is correct and it means, "let him be able to think, give him a chance to think, motivate him to think...."
Is my assumption right?
Here are some examples from Google:
That will give them to think.
Because things give him to think.
They did not give him to think about these matters.
These type of sceneries are fuel for artists and give them to think and behave with their inspiration much more.
Furthermore, I give them to think and share their ideas with their partner, which allows them to use authentic language.
The pattern of "give him to think", is it grammatically correct?
If it's correct, what does it mean?
I assume that this pattern is correct and it means, "let him be able to think, give him a chance to think, motivate him to think...."
Is my assumption right?
Here are some examples from Google:
That will give them to think.
Because things give him to think.
They did not give him to think about these matters.
These type of sceneries are fuel for artists and give them to think and behave with their inspiration much more.
Furthermore, I give them to think and share their ideas with their partner, which allows them to use authentic language.
Top answer
It's correct and does mean 'cause one to think', but I think it's ' lead one to think' nowadays. those passports cost me in all $360. The which gave me to think , as I came from the old country in 1887 by steerage...
- It's correct and does mean 'cause one to think', but I think it's ' lead one to think' nowadays.
- those passports cost me in all $360.
- The which gave me to think , as I came from the old country in 1887 by steerage...
- I expected that as my right, and you gave me to think that I was to have it...
- Though I did not know how or why.
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6 Answers
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It's correct and does mean 'cause one to think', but I think it's 'lead one to think' nowadays. I found no examples in COCA and only a very few in the Corpus of Historical American English:
...those passports cost me in all $360. The which gave me to think, as I came from the old country in 1887 by steerage...
...those passports cost me in all $360. The which gave me to think, as I came from the old country in 1887 by steerage...
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Thanks so much for letting me confirmed on this one, Mister Micawber!!
And your comment on "These type of sceneries ", do you mean that it should be replaced with "these types of sceneries" or "these types of scenery"?
About "using the form inappropriately".... It's hard to understand what should have been the correct form.
And your comment on "These type of sceneries ", do you mean that it should be replaced with "these types of sceneries" or "these types of scenery"?
About "using the form inappropriately".... It's hard to understand what should have been the correct form.
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"Scenery" is a non-count noun.
'I give them to think'-- the idiom does not work well (or at all) with 1st person/ simple present.
'I give them to think'-- the idiom does not work well (or at all) with 1st person/ simple present.
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'to give one to think' sounds very much to my ear like a literal translation from a Romance language. The typical English translation of that Romance idiom is "make one think", "give one food for thought".
donner a penser (Fr.); dar a pensar (Sp.); dare a pensare (It.)
Earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes. Maybe the world is coming to an end. It makes you think, doesn't it?
donner a penser (Fr.); dar a pensar (Sp.); dare a pensare (It.)
Earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes. Maybe the world is coming to an end. It makes you think, doesn't it?
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I see.....
So, I guess I may figure that that kind of pattern is not very much English and that the pattern sounds pretty foreign to English native speakers....
Thanks Calif!!
So, I guess I may figure that that kind of pattern is not very much English and that the pattern sounds pretty foreign to English native speakers....
Thanks Calif!!
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