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SuperESL Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Trunk
Hello,
Trunk has the meaning of 'the main part.' When used in this sense, is it permissible to say "a trunk of sth" (i.e. a trunk of the enemy troops / a main part of the enemy troops)?
Thank you.
Trunk has the meaning of 'the main part.' When used in this sense, is it permissible to say "a trunk of sth" (i.e. a trunk of the enemy troops / a main part of the enemy troops)?
Thank you.
Top answer
In my opinion, it would not be natural to say "a trunk of something," for semantic reasons. (Well, maybe a trunk of old clothes) We would commonly say that a given entity (as a tree) has only one trunk, but many branches. " SuperESL a main part of the enemy troops Obviously, the enemy's troops may have more than one main part .
- In my opinion, it would not be natural to say "a trunk of something," for semantic reasons.
- (Well, maybe a trunk of old clothes) We would commonly say that a given entity (as a tree) has only one trunk, but many branches.
- " SuperESL a main part of the enemy troops Obviously, the enemy's troops may have more than one main part .
- But we're stuck with the tree metaphor.
- What branch of the armed services are you in?
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3 Answers
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In my opinion, it would not be natural to say "a trunk of something," for semantic reasons.
(Well, maybe a trunk of old clothes)
We would commonly say that a given entity (as a tree) has only one trunk, but many branches.
Therefore we would say "the trunk of something," and "a branch of something."
(Well, maybe a trunk of old clothes)
We would commonly say that a given entity (as a tree) has only one trunk, but many branches.
Therefore we would say "the trunk of something," and "a branch of something."
SuperESLa main part of the enem
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Revisiting this, it occurs to me that "trunk" has a traditional usage in the layout of rail systems (railroads).
I've heard specific "lines" referred to as "trunk lines."
The main like from city A to city B is a trunk line. ("Trunk" should probably be considered an adjective here.)
This may not relate to the usage you have in mind, but I don't want to leave y
I've heard specific "lines" referred to as "trunk lines."
The main like from city A to city B is a trunk line. ("Trunk" should probably be considered an adjective here.)
This may not relate to the usage you have in mind, but I don't want to leave y
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