0
SheltieBites Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Trace

"He traces his lineage back to Europe."
"He can trace his lineage back to Europe."

How are these different?
  

Top answer

Hi, There's no real difference. I suppose you could argue that I can do something does not mean I actually do something , but it's an unlikely interpretation of your sentence. Clive

— Clive

  • Hi, There's no real difference.
  • I suppose you could argue that I can do something does not mean I actually do something , but it's an unlikely interpretation of your sentence.
  • Clive
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

7 Answers
0
Hi,

There's no real difference.

I suppose you could argue that I can do something does not mean I actually do something, but it's an unlikely interpretation of your sentence.

Clive
0
0
So, if my parents were born in Europe and then they immigrated to America, where I was born, I could write both:

"I trace my lineage to Europe."
"I can trace my lineage to Europe."

and nobody complain?
0
0
Hi,

Yes.

But when you use the word 'lineage', to me it suggests you are from a noble family.

I usually hear eg 'I can trace
0
0
CliveHi, Yes. But when you use the word 'lineage', to me it suggests you are from a noble family. I usually hear eg 'I can trace my ancestors back to . . . ' Clive
So, the usual combination is "can trace", nor "trace"?
0
0
For the previous post, change "nor" to "not".
0
0
Hi,

Probably. I don't hear people discuss this topic a lot.

Other things you can say are
eg My people are from Europe.

Clive
0
0
Europe is an awfully large continent.
Why not simply say "my family comes from France"? - or Italy, or Holland, or Greece, or Russia ...
I say this because I have actually heard some students refer to Europe as a country.
It isn't.
0

Related Questions