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Hans51 Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
Usage of the word target
target somebody/something to aim an attack or a criticism at somebody/something
The missiles were mainly targeted at the United States.
The company has been targeted by animal rights groups for its use of dogs in drugs trials.
1) The missile targets the place.
2) The shelling targets the place.
Is it not possible to use the word target like the examples above? Or They should be used as a passive voice?
What do you native English speakers think? Thank you so much as usual in advance!
The missiles were mainly targeted at the United States.
The company has been targeted by animal rights groups for its use of dogs in drugs trials.
1) The missile targets the place.
2) The shelling targets the place.
Is it not possible to use the word target like the examples above? Or They should be used as a passive voice?
What do you native English speakers think? Thank you so much as usual in advance!
Top answer
Hans51 Is it not possible to use the word target like the examples above? No. People do the targeting.
- Hans51 Is it not possible to use the word target like the examples above?
- No.
- People do the targeting.
- Their weapons can be missiles, barbs, shells, rocks and other projectiles.
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3 Answers
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Hans51Is it not possible to use the word target like the examples above?No. People do the targeting. Their weapons can be missiles, barbs, shells, rocks and other projectiles.
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I find it odd to have an inanimate object like "missile" as the active subject of "target". I think that "shelling" works a bit better because it is a human action, but it still may be slightly questionable.
(Edit) I think also that your examples suffer from a general weakness or nondescriptness of "targets the place". I think with better examples, "shelling", at least, could work OK as t
(Edit) I think also that your examples suffer from a general weakness or nondescriptness of "targets the place". I think with better examples, "shelling", at least, could work OK as t
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Some examples found online with "to target".
Uganda led a military operation to target the rebels.
The payback could come as the bank begins to target bigger and richer customers.
A new brand of fitness facilities is starting to target our future generations.
The drug is designed to target a cellular pathway that hastens cancer progression.
Uganda led a military operation to target the rebels.
The payback could come as the bank begins to target bigger and richer customers.
A new brand of fitness facilities is starting to target our future generations.
The drug is designed to target a cellular pathway that hastens cancer progression.
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