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Angliholic Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

growing up to win an Olympic medal

0Children all over the world dream of growing up 01b00to win02b00 an Olympic medal.02br
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00Hi,02br
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00Does "to win" in the above refer to "in order to win?" If not, what does it mean to you? Thanks.0-
  

Top answer

0No, not in order to win. 0-

— Nona the brit

  • 0No, not in order to win.
  • 0-
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4 Answers
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0No, not in order to win. That makes it sound as though their purpose for growing up is just to win the Olympics.02br
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00It just means this is something they dream of doing once they are grown up.0-
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0I agree with Nona. But even the original has the sole purpose meaning to my ear.02br
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00Another example,02br
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00I'm going to the store 01i01b00to buy a watermelon02b02i00. (Buying a watermelon is the purpose of my trip to the store)02br
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00Children all over the world deam of growing up
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0I can see why this is confusing as usually there would be a purpose implied.02br
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00Can you just accept that with 'grow up' we say all sorts of things but it doesn't mean that was the purpose for the child growing up? for example - he grew up to become an alcoholic. I don't think you'd believe the child's whole purpose was to become an alcoholic. 02br
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0Can you just accept that with 'grow up' we say all sorts of things but it doesn't mean that was the purpose for the child growing up?02br
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00Yes, since you as a native speaker has told me so, I will. 05002br
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00This is probably one of those things that grammar can't explain. Thanks, Nona for trying. Now, it sounds much better to my ear. I just
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