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Debpriya De Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Need
I need you to hold the fort.
What is the meaning of the sentence ?
1. I need you for holding the fort.
2. I need for you to hold the fort.
What is the meaning of the sentence ?
1. I need you for holding the fort.
2. I need for you to hold the fort.
Top answer
It looks like you understand the idiom, but are asking about the "you/for" reversal. But how can I be sure? Oh, well!
- It looks like you understand the idiom, but are asking about the "you/for" reversal.
- But how can I be sure?
- Oh, well!
- I need you to hold the fort.
- I am giving you alone the responsibility of maintaining the status quo - of keeping everything under control.
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5 Answers
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It looks like you understand the idiom, but are asking about the "you/for" reversal. But how can I be sure? Oh, well!
I need you to hold the fort. I am giving you alone the responsibility of maintaining the status quo - of keeping everything under control.
1. I
I need you to hold the fort. I am giving you alone the responsibility of maintaining the status quo - of keeping everything under control.
1. I
00
Hi Avangi,
Actually ,my question was not clear.
Actually ,my question was not clear.
I want to know whether "I need you to hold the fort" means "I need you for holding the fort" or "I need for you to hold the fort".
Will a comma disambiguate the sentence if I write it as "I need you , to hold the fort" ?00
I don't think the comma helps, although it might push us toward your first interpretation.
In actual fact, I'm quite sure the typical native speaker would take the second interpretation.
Do I understand you to suggest by the first interpretation that "I need you, rather than someone else."?
In actual fact, I'm quite sure the typical native speaker would take the second interpretation.
Do I understand you to suggest by the first interpretation that "I need you, rather than someone else."?
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I think it is just like the use of "want".
When we say "I want you to leave" , we mean that I want (for you to leave) and not that I want you in order to leave.
What do you think Avangi ?
When we say "I want you to leave" , we mean that I want (for you to leave) and not that I want you in order to leave.
What do you think Avangi ?
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Debpriya DeI think it is just like the use of "want".When we say "I want you to leave" , we mean that I want (for you to leave) and not that I want you in order to leave.What do you think Avangi ?Yes, I agree.
Now I better understand where you're coming from.
I need/want you in order to leave means I need you so that I
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