Which word is the VERB in... - Page 3

englishstudent · #21 (**permalink**) 05-Oct-2006, 19:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonBee

(Learners--do you know what "all at sea" means?)

No, I don't know.

Please tell us.

Harry Smith · #22 (**permalink**) 09-Oct-2006, 19:13

I agree with two verbs,but I think in "tell" there is more action than in "can".
The verb " can" has a defect, that's why it is a modal verb.

RonBee · #23 (**permalink**) 10-Oct-2006, 08:41

A person who is "all at sea" needs a compass because he doesn't know which way to go. In other words, he is confused.

englishstudent · #24 (**permalink**) 11-Oct-2006, 19:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonBee

A person who is "all at sea" needs a compass because he doesn't know which way to go. In other words, he is confused.

Ok. Thanks.

Is it the same as "being in lala land" or "being spaced out"?
Or is the distinction that being in some circumstance
can cause a person to be "all at sea" but
a person is predisposed to "being in lala land" or "being a space cadet"
(ie without any particular reason)?

Not being able to figure this out, am I just generally confused now,
or am I "all at sea" now? ;)

RonBee · #25 (**permalink**) 13-Oct-2006, 08:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by englishstudent

Ok. Thanks.

Is it the same as "being in lala land" or "being spaced out"?
Or is the distinction that being in some circumstance
can cause a person to be "all at sea" but
a person is predisposed to "being in lala land" or "being a space cadet"
(ie without any particular reason)?

Not being able to figure this out, am I just generally confused now,
or am I "all at sea" now? ;)

No, that, I think, applies to more general circumstances. Somebody who is spaced out might not know where he is at a given moment (or why he is where he is or how he got there), while somebody who is all at sea is just momentarily confused about something, not confused in general. He still has all his faculties about him.