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Mr. Tom Posted 13 years ago
Vocabulary

The use of "summons" as a verb

Hi

The police have been unable to summons him.

Is this sentence OK? If yes, does it mean the police have been unable to make him appear in court?

Thanks,

Tom
  

Top answer

Yes, that's the idea. It may be the court rather than the police that issues the summons .

— Clive

  • Yes, that's the idea.
  • It may be the court rather than the police that issues the summons .
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5 Answers
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Yes, that's the idea.
It may be the court rather than the police that issues the summons.
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Hi Clive,
The police have been unable to summons him.
Why not?
eg. The police have been unable to summon him.

Thanks. Really I appreciate your kind help.
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summons is a special legal verb formed from the noun 'a summons'.
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I am not sure this is the word choice you want.

To summon is to call upon to meet/appear or to order to come. It is the act of calling upon or ordering, it is not the act of actually succeeding in the person coming/appearing.

Therefore, to be "unable to summon" is like saying "the police have been unable to order him", when what you are probably trying to say is that they have b
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I took it to mean eg His address was unknown.

If you receive but ignore a summons, my understanding is that the police may come and get you.

Clive
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