Picked (up)
Are both these sentence correct, and do they mean the same:
a) "A flower this beautiful should probably not even be picked, so that we could appreciate it for as long as possible."
b) "A flower this beautiful shoul probably not even be picked up, so that we could appreciate it for as long as possible."
Note: By 'picked (up)', I mean to be cut in order to be used as bouquet or for any other floral arrangements.
Top answer
They make sense, but mean different things. Only 'a' makes sense in the way you intend it to. The implication in 'b' is that the flower is on the ground, presumably already picked, so you are just 'picking it up'.
- They make sense, but mean different things.
- Only 'a' makes sense in the way you intend it to.
- The implication in 'b' is that the flower is on the ground, presumably already picked, so you are just 'picking it up'.
- To cut a flower from its stem and use it to make a bouquet (or whatever) you need 'pick', not 'pick up'.
- They have different meanings.
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They make sense, but mean different things. Only 'a' makes sense in the way you intend it to. The implication in 'b' is that the flower is on the ground, presumably already picked, so you are just 'picking it up'. To cut a flower from its stem and use it to make a bouquet (or whatever) you need 'pick', not 'pick up'. They have different meanings.
0Christine Christiepicked up
Saying this instead of just picked is a minor mistake that native speakers of other languages often make. Remember that people normally pick things from plants.
Christine ChristieNote: By 'picked (up)', I mean to be cut in order to be used as bouquet or for any other floral arrangements.
0Christine ChristieAre both these sentence correct
No.
You pick flowers, vegetables, mushrooms, etc., from the plants they grow on. (pick also means 'choose' or 'select'. We picked Tom to lead the choir.)
You pick up things you have dropped on the floor. (pick up is also used in a lot of idioms. pick up
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