Grammar help please?
GPYAnother example that I thought of that might also be useful:1) I had the Moon to light my way.2) I had the Moon light my way.While (1) is possible, (2) is not, since it is not possible (except in a fantasy) for a person to cause the Moon to do anything.
You know, when I read your examples at first, I was really surprised and wondering, does English really use such terms? But after continuing reading, I realized that the examples in English do not refer to what I thought.
Such terms: "I had the Moon to light my way" or " I had the moon that light my night" or " I have the sun that will always light my life", "she's the sun of my life".
In anther language is considered "eloquent terms or sentences"; really eloquent and beautiful too, but we don't always take the meaning literally as English does. From the context of speaking/writing we do know whether the person was really referring to the moon itself or something else. I could refer to someone a "human" by saying such terms, because he/she's close, they could have done a lot for me, and I'm grateful to them.
It means in other term: "They light my way like the moon's lighting in the dark"
So, I can refer to them directly by the noun "moon" without needing to use "like the moon".
Therefore, this therm "she's the moon that light my way" will be understood perfectly".
There is a saying: " Mom is a candle that burns itself to light the way to her children"
I guess if English speaker hear such terms, he would feel like"what?", it sounds awkward. But such terms are perfectly understood in another language; furthermore it's eloquent terms too.
You will find such things in literature, poems, books, even in people speaking.
Ex:
-How does she look like?
-She looks like the moon. (It means gorgeous!)
Regarding "I had the Moon to light my way" and " I had the Moon light my way" in English. I understood it now, I think, I can distinguish between what's OK and what's not OK, according to English.
Thank you very much
Top answer
anonymous we don't always take the meaning literally as English does. In English, the words "moon" and "candle" are not commonly used metaphorically to describe people, though it is not impossible. Thus, sentences such as "She's the moon that lights my way" and, perhaps to a slightly lesser extent, "Mom is a candle that burns to light the way for her children" can work as creative or poetic writing.
- anonymous we don't always take the meaning literally as English does.
- In English, the words "moon" and "candle" are not commonly used metaphorically to describe people, though it is not impossible.
- Thus, sentences such as "She's the moon that lights my way" and, perhaps to a slightly lesser extent, "Mom is a candle that burns to light the way for her children" can work as creative or poetic writing.
- The nouns that are used metaphorically in such a way may vary depending on language and culture.
- For example, in (British) English we have an expression that someone is a "brick", meaning that they are a helpful and reliable person.
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anonymouswe don't always take the meaning literally as English does.
In English, the words "moon" and "candle" are not commonly used metaphorically to describe people, though it is not impossible. Thus, sentences such as "She's the moon that lights my way" and, perhaps to a slightly lesser extent, "Mom is a candle that burns to light the way for her childre
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