Results 1 to 3 of 3
Like Tree5Likes
  • 2 Post By SoothingDave
  • 3 Post By Barb_D

Thread: pointed at by a gun or pointed by a gun

  1. 10-Oct-2012, 17:29 #1
    david11's Avatar
    david11
    david11 is offline Senior Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Student or Learner
      • Native Language:
      • Tamil
      • Home Country:
      • India
      • Current Location:
      • India
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Posts
    578

    Default pointed at by a gun or pointed by a gun

    1)You are pointed at by a gun.

    2)You are pointed by a gun.

    Which one is right when we say a gun is pointed at someone?
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  2. 10-Oct-2012, 18:03 #2
    SoothingDave
    SoothingDave is offline VIP Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Interested in Language
      • Native Language:
      • English
      • Home Country:
      • United States
      • Current Location:
      • United States
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Posts
    7,304

    Default Re: pointed at by a gun or pointed by a gun

    #2 is wrong.

    #1 is OK, but not very natural. It's not common to express this in a passive way. Saying "a gun is pointed at you" is better.
    david11 and charliedeut like this.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
  3. 10-Oct-2012, 18:21 #3
    Barb_D's Avatar
    Barb_D
    Barb_D is offline Moderator
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Other
      • Native Language:
      • American English
      • Home Country:
      • United States
      • Current Location:
      • United States
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Posts
    14,283

    Default Re: pointed at by a gun or pointed by a gun

    Or "Someone is pointing a gun at you."
    Even in the passive, I prefer the 'ing' form - A gun is being pointed at you.
    Rover_KE, bhaisahab and charliedeut like this.
    I'm not a teacher, but I write for a living. Please don't ask me about 2nd conditionals, but I'm a safe bet for what reads well in (American) English.
    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote
« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Similar Threads

  1. All the fingers are being pointed at
    By rainous in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 30-Sep-2011, 09:12
  2. [General] pointed out to each other shoes
    By Selviya87 in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 27-Sep-2011, 06:24
  3. pointed
    By Mr. X in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 26-Jul-2010, 13:34
  4. Ain't like one of us is up there/pointed in the large hole
    By KLPNO in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 05-Nov-2007, 01:22
  5. pointed, attic
    By user_gary in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 07-May-2007, 11:45

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Forum Rules

Hotchalk

Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.1