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Are these sentences correct, specifically the use of 'in your face'?I will hit the hammer in your face.I will hit you in the face with the hammer.I will hit your face with the hammer.Thanks.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

I will hit the hammer in your face. No.
I will hit you in the face with the hammer. Yes.
I will hit your face with the hammer. Yes.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

CalifJimI will hit the hammer in your face. No.I will hit you in the face with the hammer. Yes.I will hit your face with the hammer. Yes.CJ

Thanks, CJ.
I thought that the first might be incorrect. Is that because it implies that I am actually hitting the hammer itself, which does not make sense?

Also, would these sentences be correct?:

1. I will smash the hammer in your face.
Does this sound wrong maybe because it implies that I am actually smashing the hammer itself, just like the above incorrect sentence?

2. I will smash your face with the hammer.
This sounds correct because it sounds like the face will be broken into pieces with the hammer, righ?

Clive · Answer

( I realize that you just want to discuss grammar, but I wish you had chosen sentences not so graphically violent and unpleasant. )

Clive

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousI thought that the first might be incorrect. Is that because it implies that I am actually hitting the hammer itself, which does not make sense?

Yes.

Anonymouswould these sentences be correct?

All similar verbs follow the same alternations. (These are certain verbs of physical contact.) It might be called the "with / against alternation".

I will [hit / smash / strike / whack / pound / bash] [your face with the hammer / the fence with a stick].
I will [hit / smash / strike / whack / pound / bash] the hammer against your face / a stick against the fence].
She bumped the wall with her shopping cart. / She bumped her shopping cart against the wall.
She brushed his elbow with her hand. / She brushed her hand against his elbow.
She's been tapping the desk with her fingers. / She's been tapping her fingers against the desk.

Where it makes sense, "into" sometimes occurs instead of "against", e.g., bash your arm into a wall, though the meaning changes with the change of preposition.
______

Not all versions of these sound equally idiomatic, but this is the underlying pattern. Further, some verbs use only the "with" form, e.g., spank; others use only the "against" form, e.g., toss. (spank s.o. with a paddle; toss s.t. against the wall)

CJ

See English Verb Classes and Alternations by Beth Levin.

Anonymous · Answer

Clivend unpleasant. ) Clive

Hi Clive, I am very sorry if I stimulated your imagination in a bad way. I just heard natives joking around in the gym with similar sentences and these questions came to my mind. Sorry again!

Anonymous · Answer

CalifJimt all versions of these sound equally idiomatic, but this is the underlying pattern. Further, some verbs use only the "with" form, e.g., spank; others use only the "against" form, e.g., toss. (spank s.o. with a paddle; toss s.t. against the wall)CJSee English Verb Classes and Alternations by Beth Levin.

Got it. Thanks a lot CJ. That was very helpful and clear. I really appreciate it.

Joe

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