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Which word is the VERB in... Which word is the VERB in...
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Poll: Can you tell me the way to the station?
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Can you tell me the way to the station?

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  #21  
Old 05-Oct-2006, 20:30
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Default Re: Which word is the VERB in...
Quote:
Originally Posted by RonBee View Post
(Learners--do you know what "all at sea" means?)
No, I don't know. Please tell us.
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  #22  
Old 09-Oct-2006, 20:13
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Default Re: Which word is the VERB in...
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.
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  #23  
Old 10-Oct-2006, 09:41
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Default Re: Which word is the VERB in...
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.

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  #24  
Old 11-Oct-2006, 20:04
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Default Re: Which word is the VERB in...
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Originally Posted by RonBee View Post
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? ;)
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  #25  
Old 13-Oct-2006, 09:09
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Default Re: Which word is the VERB in...
Quote:
Originally Posted by englishstudent View Post
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.

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  #26  
Old 13-Oct-2006, 16:37
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Default Re: Which word is the VERB in...
Thanks RonBee.
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  #27  
Old 20-Oct-2006, 17:03
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Default Re: Which word is the VERB in...
(Can ) is the only verb.Modal verb,indeed!(tell) is an infinitive.
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  #28  
Old 21-Oct-2006, 04:04
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Default Re: Which word is the VERB in...
An infinitive is still a verb.
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  #29  
Old 27-Oct-2006, 20:49
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Default Re: Which word is the VERB in...
Can modle
Tell is the original verb in the question because " can " is the modle verb..
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  #30  
Old 27-Oct-2006, 21:19
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Default Re: Which word is the VERB in...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Qasem View Post
Can modle
Tell is the original verb in the question because " can " is the modle verb..
That should be "modal".
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