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Northwind Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Why does the starter calls marks, not mark?
The starter called, "On your marks," at the World Championships in Athletics in Taegu, Korea.
I was surprised because he said mark*s*, not mark.
I think when it is understood that everybody there has only one thing, the singular is used. For example, as 1 and 2.
1. How's your wife?
2. Does your throat ache?
Why does the starter uses mark*s*, not mark?
I thought of two possible reasons, r1 and r2.
r1. Because each runner has two starting blocks. That is, becasue the starter means a block by a mark.
r2. Because eight runners have eight starting machines in total. That is, because the starter means a machine, which is composed of two starting blocks, by a mark..
But I'm not sure.
Why does the starter uses mark*s*, not mark?
I was surprised because he said mark*s*, not mark.
I think when it is understood that everybody there has only one thing, the singular is used. For example, as 1 and 2.
1. How's your wife?
2. Does your throat ache?
Why does the starter uses mark*s*, not mark?
I thought of two possible reasons, r1 and r2.
r1. Because each runner has two starting blocks. That is, becasue the starter means a block by a mark.
r2. Because eight runners have eight starting machines in total. That is, because the starter means a machine, which is composed of two starting blocks, by a mark..
But I'm not sure.
Why does the starter uses mark*s*, not mark?
Top answer
northwind Why does the starter uses use mark*s*, not mark? You'll have to ask him. You have already thought of two good reasons, and maybe it was one of those reasons.
- northwind Why does the starter uses use mark*s*, not mark?
- You'll have to ask him.
- You have already thought of two good reasons, and maybe it was one of those reasons.
- We don't know what is inside somebody else's head when they speak, so I don't think we can even guess at some exact reason for this word choice.
- Eventually you will find such word choices less and less surprising.
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6 Answers
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northwindWhy does the starterYou'll have to ask him. You have already thought of two good reasons, and maybe it was one of those reasons. We don't know what is inside somebody else's head when they speak, so I don't think we can even guess at some exact reason for this word choice.usesuse mark*s*, not mark?
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I have only heard it as "on your mark."
There are many related idioms:
You hit it right on the mark.
He was slow off the mark.
On your mark, get set, go.
Toe the mark; toe the line..
The mark is the starting line for the race. A false start is called if the runner is in front of the line before the race starts.
I suppose it works in the plural as well as
There are many related idioms:
You hit it right on the mark.
He was slow off the mark.
On your mark, get set, go.
Toe the mark; toe the line..
The mark is the starting line for the race. A false start is called if the runner is in front of the line before the race starts.
I suppose it works in the plural as well as
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Thanks for your very, very nice and exciting replies!
I cheked the meaning of 'mark' in the following two dictionaries, d1 and d2.
d1. American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
'The place from which racers begin and sometimes end their contest.'
d2.Concise Oxford English Dictionary
'competitor's starting point in a race'
So 'mark' means a plac
I cheked the meaning of 'mark' in the following two dictionaries, d1 and d2.
d1. American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
'The place from which racers begin and sometimes end their contest.'
d2.Concise Oxford English Dictionary
'competitor's starting point in a race'
So 'mark' means a plac
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northwindBut for some reason, probably by misunderstanding, 'marks' is sometimes used.I think that the simplest explanation is that each competitor has his own mark (beginning point), so there is more than one mark. Even so, by some arbitrary convention not observed by this particular speaker, we normally say "On your mark" as a fixed expression no matter ho
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I have to tell you thanks too, AlpheccaStars.
Your suggestion was a big blow It saved me out of the darkness.
Thanks.
Your suggestion was a big blow It saved me out of the darkness.
Thanks.
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