Jump as a transitive verb
For years, I've tried (gently) to introduce my son to the subtle charms of tennis. Not much luck. Boys of a certain age like power. Control? Not so much. When we jumped a tennis court, he took far more pleasure from hitting a Pujolsian blast over the fence than from guiding it within the parameters of the court. Nadal was all well and good; but he was no David Wright.
What does "we jumped a tennis court" mean? Did they play tennis or watch Nadal's match at that time?
Thanks.
Top answer
Most verbs in English can be either transitive or intransitive. " I've never heard the phrase "jumped a tennis court" before. But this might mean, for example: "commandeered a (public) tennis court," or "climbed over the fence of a locked court," or "took over a tennis court," etc.
- Most verbs in English can be either transitive or intransitive.
- " I've never heard the phrase "jumped a tennis court" before.
- But this might mean, for example: "commandeered a (public) tennis court," or "climbed over the fence of a locked court," or "took over a tennis court," etc.
- But the idea here is clear: they played tennis on a tennis court.
- Nadal has no physical presence in this passage.
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Most verbs in English can be either transitive or intransitive. "Jump" can be transitive, as in: "He jumped me and started slugging me."
I've never heard the phrase "jumped a tennis court" before. But this might mean, for example: "commandeered a (public) tennis court," or "climbed over the fence of a locked court," or "took over a tennis court," etc. But the idea here is clear
0SafrarWhen we jumped a tennis court,
Maybe the author used it metaphorically 'borrowing' from "to jump rope".
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