0
Norwolf Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Take
Hi, teachers.
According to CGOEL,
We can say: He played tennis for an hour.
But we can't say: It took him an hour to play tennis.
It is really weird.
Could you explain the reason to me, please?
According to CGOEL,
We can say: He played tennis for an hour.
But we can't say: It took him an hour to play tennis.
It is really weird.
Could you explain the reason to me, please?
Top answer
Hi, According to CGOEL, We can say: He played tennis for an hour. Simple statement of fact. But we can't say: It took him an hour to play tennis.
- Hi, According to CGOEL, We can say: He played tennis for an hour.
- Simple statement of fact.
- But we can't say: It took him an hour to play tennis.
- It is really weird.
- Could you explain the reason to me, please?
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
5 Answers
0
Hi,
According to CGOEL,
We can say: He played tennis for an hour. Simple statement of fact.
But we can't say: It took him an hour to play tennis.
It is really weird.
Could you explain the reason to me, please?
I see no reason why you couldn't say 'It took him an hour to play ( a game of ) tennis'. However, note that this wording is not just a
According to CGOEL,
We can say: He played tennis for an hour. Simple statement of fact.
But we can't say: It took him an hour to play tennis.
It is really weird.
Could you explain the reason to me, please?
I see no reason why you couldn't say 'It took him an hour to play ( a game of ) tennis'. However, note that this wording is not just a
00
norwolfAccording to CGOEL,Often the grammar books want you to see a particular interpretation of a sentence as the relevant reading. Here they want you to focus on "to play tennis" as an activity rather than as an accomplishment. As mention
We can say: He played tennis for an hour.
But we can't say: It took him an hour to play tennis.
00
Correct:
It took him an hour to find the key.
It took him an hour to work it out.
It took him an hour to play tennis with Jim.
It took him an hour to travel through the tunnel.
Incorrect:
*It took him an hour to look for the key.
*It took him an hour to struggle for it.
*It takes him an hour to play tennis every day.
It took him an hour to find the key.
It took him an hour to work it out.
It took him an hour to play tennis with Jim.
It took him an hour to travel through the tunnel.
Incorrect:
*It took him an hour to look for the key.
*It took him an hour to struggle for it.
*It takes him an hour to play tennis every day.
00
norwolfAny mistakes?No. Not really. The first tennis example still seems a little weird to my ear, however. 'Playing tennis with someone' is somewhat ambiguous to me in terms of whether it's an activity or an accomplishment. I agree with your assessment of all the others. I think it's safe to say that you understand the underlying concept.
00
Done!
Thank you guys, CalifJim and Clive. You did a wonderful job.
Now I am trying to explain to my people the concept in everyday Chinese. You're greatly helpful.
It is clear: *It took him an hour to be doing it.
Thank you guys, CalifJim and Clive. You did a wonderful job.
Now I am trying to explain to my people the concept in everyday Chinese. You're greatly helpful.
It is clear: *It took him an hour to be doing it.
0
Related Questions