0
Teo Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
it is ... that ... not
1. It is a proud horse that will not bear his own provender.
2. It's a long lane has no turning.
3. It's an ill wind that blows nobody.
4. It is a wise man that never makes mistakes.
5. It is a sad heart that never rejoices.
6. It is a good horse that never stumbles.
7. It is a good tree that has neither knap or gaw.
According to A Dictionary of Answers to Common Questions in English, written by Prof. Zhao Zhencai, a Chinese professor of English,
#1 means "Even a proud horse will bear his own provender."
#2 means "Even a long lane has a turning."
#3 means "Even an ill wind blows somebody."
#4. means "Even a wise man sometimes makes mistakes."
#5. means "Even a sad heart sometimes rejoices."
#6 means "Even a good horse sometimes stumbles."
#7 means "Even a good tree has a knap or gaw.
Is Prof. Zhao right?
2. It's a long lane has no turning.
3. It's an ill wind that blows nobody.
4. It is a wise man that never makes mistakes.
5. It is a sad heart that never rejoices.
6. It is a good horse that never stumbles.
7. It is a good tree that has neither knap or gaw.
According to A Dictionary of Answers to Common Questions in English, written by Prof. Zhao Zhencai, a Chinese professor of English,
#1 means "Even a proud horse will bear his own provender."
#2 means "Even a long lane has a turning."
#3 means "Even an ill wind blows somebody."
#4. means "Even a wise man sometimes makes mistakes."
#5. means "Even a sad heart sometimes rejoices."
#6 means "Even a good horse sometimes stumbles."
#7 means "Even a good tree has a knap or gaw.
Is Prof. Zhao right?
Top answer
From the point of view of continuing the formula established in the first two examples, yes, he's right. Nevertheless, from the point of view of the subject matter and word choices, not all are exactly appropriate in their original form. In fact, the third one doesn't even make sense.
- From the point of view of continuing the formula established in the first two examples, yes, he's right.
- Nevertheless, from the point of view of the subject matter and word choices, not all are exactly appropriate in their original form.
- In fact, the third one doesn't even make sense.
- CJ
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
7 Answers
0
From the point of view of continuing the formula established in the first two examples, yes, he's right. Nevertheless, from the point of view of the subject matter and word choices, not all are exactly appropriate in their original form. In fact, the third one doesn't even make sense.
CJ
CJ
00
00
Now that makes sense. But aside from the first three, are any of the others accepted or well known proverbs?
CJ
CJ
00
8. It is a wise father that knows his own child. = Even a wise father does not necessarily know his own child.
9. It is a foolish sheep that makes the wolf his confessor. = Even a foolish sheep does not make the wolf his confessor.
10. It is an ill bird that betrays his own nest. = Even an ill
9. It is a foolish sheep that makes the wolf his confessor. = Even a foolish sheep does not make the wolf his confessor.
10. It is an ill bird that betrays his own nest. = Even an ill
00
You've managed to reverse all the meanings Teo
A wise father does know his own child
Only a foolish sheep would have a wolf as a confessor.
Only an ill bird betrays its own nest
Only a poor mouse has only one whole
Only a foolish bird soils its own nest
A wise father does know his own child
Only a foolish sheep would have a wolf as a confessor.
Only an ill bird betrays its own nest
Only a poor mouse has only one whole
Only a foolish bird soils its own nest
00
Hi,
To ensure that people are understanding the underlying idea of this structure correctly, I'd like to focus on just one of these examples.
2. It's a long lane has no turning.
This means that 'A lane that has no turning is a very, very long lane'. In other words, 'most lanes have a turning'.
The real meaning of the proverb is that
To ensure that people are understanding the underlying idea of this structure correctly, I'd like to focus on just one of these examples.
2. It's a long lane has no turning.
This means that 'A lane that has no turning is a very, very long lane'. In other words, 'most lanes have a turning'.
The real meaning of the proverb is that
00
Teo2. It's a long lane has no turning.3. It's an ill wind that blows nobody.Sorry. I made two typos.
It's a long lane that has no turning.
It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good.
0
Related Questions