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English 1b3 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Verb - Locate

Locate my wallet on the shelf, please.

Is this ambiguous? That is, could it mean you are telling some to either a) find your wallet or b) place your wallet on the shelf.

Thanks
  

Top answer

This is technically correct from a purely grammatical point of view, but this particular sentence would not be used in English. It sounds awkward; there's a usage problem here. The use of the verb "locate" with the words "wallet" and "shelf" just doesn't work.

— Anonymous

  • This is technically correct from a purely grammatical point of view, but this particular sentence would not be used in English.
  • It sounds awkward; there's a usage problem here.
  • The use of the verb "locate" with the words "wallet" and "shelf" just doesn't work.
  • The verb "locate" is typically used in the sense of "search for" or "find", but here you apparently already know your wallet is on the shelf, a very small area, so there is no real "finding" to do.
  • " There is no question of ambiguity here; the awkward usage disqualifies the sentence right off the bat.
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2 Answers
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This is technically correct from a purely grammatical point of view, but this particular sentence would not be used in English. It sounds awkward; there's a usage problem here. The use of the verb "locate" with the words "wallet" and "shelf" just doesn't work. The verb "locate" is typically used in the sense of "search for" or "find", but here you apparently already know your wallet is on the s
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AnonymousAnd the verb "locate" in the sense of "position" or "place," is very infrequently used today, except in technical/scientific applications
Hi Anon,

If this is the case, then I completely agree with your answer. But I find it hard to believe this usage is as rare as you suggest, as this example of mine seems fine:

Stores are now being
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