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Here's a question for fellow teachers - I like teaching "could do with" as it's such a common phrase yet I can't recall ever coming across it in any course or grammar books.
But what is it? Is it a model verb? It follows the same form (e.g. the past being "could have done with") Is it a phrasal verb? I can't even find it in the grammar books I have to hand.
I'd like to hear people's ideas.
Thanks
It's an idiomatic expression composed of the modal 'could' plus the prasal verb 'do with'. One of the oddities of 'do with' in that sense is that it is used only in combination with 'could' and, possibly, 'can'
it's an informal idiom. used to say that, you need or would like to have sth.
i could do with a drink.
her hair could have done with a wash.
It's a minnow alongside make do with. ;-)
Yes, I know what it means thanks! I was asking what, grammatically, the structure is!Quote:
Originally Posted by death
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tdol
Yes, that's interesting, I hadn't thought of that one. But in what way is it a minnow?
Hi death. Yes, it's me again. I will be writing this on all your posts until you start to do what we ask - start every new sentence with a capital letter.Quote:
Originally Posted by death
It is a tricky thing to analyse, but make do with is :crazyeye:. It's harder to categorise. Could do with can be explained as a phrasal verb that takes a specific modal verb, but....Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinEnglish
We've told you - it's an informal, idiomatic expression. There is little point in trying to fit it into some grammatical category.Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinEnglish