0
Newguest Posted 14 years ago
Vocabulary
We are to do/putty
Hi
It is a matter of choice whether we allow our diviner self to control us or whether we will be controlled by the brute within us. No man has to do anything he does not want to do. He is therefore the director of his life if he wills to be. What we are to do, is the result of our training. We are like putty, and can be completely controlled by our will power.
Does "what we are to do" means the same as "what we have to do"? I'd rather say "What we DO is the result of our training", "are to do" sounds strange to me.
Does "putty" above mean "A doughlike cement made by mixing whiting and linseed oil, used to fill holes in woodwork and secure panes of glass"? So we're like this substance because we can be completely controlled by our will power?
Or maybe it's something like a "putty knife"?
It is a matter of choice whether we allow our diviner self to control us or whether we will be controlled by the brute within us. No man has to do anything he does not want to do. He is therefore the director of his life if he wills to be. What we are to do, is the result of our training. We are like putty, and can be completely controlled by our will power.
Does "what we are to do" means the same as "what we have to do"? I'd rather say "What we DO is the result of our training", "are to do" sounds strange to me.
Does "putty" above mean "A doughlike cement made by mixing whiting and linseed oil, used to fill holes in woodwork and secure panes of glass"? So we're like this substance because we can be completely controlled by our will power?
Or maybe it's something like a "putty knife"?
Top answer
Hi, A few quick comments: What we are to do means, generally speaking, what we are about to do / what we are going to do . It's a periphrastic form for the future tense. In addition, this form is commonly used to describe an action taking place in the foreseeable future.
- Hi, A few quick comments: What we are to do means, generally speaking, what we are about to do / what we are going to do .
- It's a periphrastic form for the future tense.
- In addition, this form is commonly used to describe an action taking place in the foreseeable future.
- In this context to be like putty in someone's hands is an idiom.
- It means they can be easily controlled or affected by someone.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
4 Answers
0
Hi,
A few quick comments:
What we are to do means, generally speaking, what we are about to do / what we are going to do.
It's a periphrastic form for the future tense. In addition, this form is commonly used to describe
an action taking place in the foreseeable future.
In this context to be like putty in someone's hands is a
A few quick comments:
What we are to do means, generally speaking, what we are about to do / what we are going to do.
It's a periphrastic form for the future tense. In addition, this form is commonly used to describe
an action taking place in the foreseeable future.
In this context to be like putty in someone's hands is a
00
Ah, so it means we're like some soft material/substance and can be easily controlled by our will power.
Thanks
Thanks
00
NewguestAh, so it means we're like some soft material/substance and can be easily controlled by our will power.Hi,
Yes, putty is indeed a soft substance, but here it is used figuratively.
Regards
00
Related Questions