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Stenka25 Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Present vs. describe

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I ran into the below question about selecting a word which fits best in the context.

The answer says 'present.'

What I want to ask is whether 'describe' in this context is impossible or not.

Many of Catlin's portraits _________ Indians as stately.

(a) regard

(b) present

(c) describe

(d) approve
  

Top answer

Stenka25 What I want to ask is whether ' describe ' in this context is impossible or not. No, describe does not work here. You could use "portray" or "depict" if you wanted some alternate words .

— RayH

  • Stenka25 What I want to ask is whether ' describe ' in this context is impossible or not.
  • No, describe does not work here.
  • You could use "portray" or "depict" if you wanted some alternate words .
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4 Answers
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Stenka25What I want to ask is whether 'describe' in this context is impossible or not.
No, describe does not work here. You could use "portray" or "depict" if you wanted some alternate words
.
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Describe usually is used in the context of speech or writing (verbal). Present can be either visual or verbal.
The difference carries through to the noun forms - description and presentation.
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Hi Stenka

I assume the portraits referred to in your sentence are pictures.

The word describe doesn't work because you need to use words in order to describe something. However, it would be possible to use the word portray in your sentence.

EDIT:
Whoops! Some other posters were a lot speedier than I was.
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Thanks all of you for the immediate answer, RayH, AlpheccaStars, Yankee.

Thanks again.
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