John at the hospital
Which are correct and have the meaning assigned to them:
1) I am thinking about John at the hospital.
1a) I am thinking about him at the hospital.
Meaning: I am thinking about the way John/he is or was at the hospital.
2) I am talking about John at the hospital.
2a) I am talking about him at the hospital.
Meaning: I am talking about the way John/he is or was at the hospital.
3) I am worried about John at the hospital.
3a) I am worried about him at the hospital.
Meaning: I am worried about John/him. John/he is at the hospital.
Gratefully,
Navi
Top answer
To my ear the primary meaning of those sentences is that I am doing something while I am at the hospital, and the secondary meaning is that I am doing something while John is at/in the hospital. To make the secondary meanings explicit, we can say 1) I'm thinking about John's being in (the) hospital. 2) I'm talking about the John who is at the hospital (not the other man named John).
- To my ear the primary meaning of those sentences is that I am doing something while I am at the hospital, and the secondary meaning is that I am doing something while John is at/in the hospital.
- To make the secondary meanings explicit, we can say 1) I'm thinking about John's being in (the) hospital.
- 2) I'm talking about the John who is at the hospital (not the other man named John).
- 3) I'm worried about John's being in (the) hospital.
- CJ
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To my ear the primary meaning of those sentences is that I am doing something while I am at the hospital, and the secondary meaning is that I am doing something while John is at/in the hospital.
To make the secondary meanings explicit, we can say
1) I'm thinking about John's being in (the) hospital.
2) I'm talking about the John who is at the hospital (not the oth
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