Enjoy a country ?

betterin · #1 (**permalink**) 21-Feb-2007, 14:52

"Tom should enjoy this country." sounds a bit strange.

Can "enjoy" be followed by a name of a country ?

Casiopea · #2 (**permalink**) 21-Feb-2007, 15:28

Welcome, betterin.

"enjoy" takes a nominal (a noun, a gerund). For example,

[1] Tom should enjoy China (while he's here).
[2] Tom should enjoy watching this film. I know he like's Bruce Lee.

"should" has more than one meaning. It could mean ought to or probably will or most likely will.

I suspect that difference in meaning might be the reason [1] and [2] sound 'a bit strange' to you.

Click here: should: Definition and Much More from Answers.com

All the best.

betterin · #3 (**permalink**) 21-Feb-2007, 17:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casiopea

Welcome, betterin.

"enjoy" takes a nominal (a noun, a gerund). For example,

[1] Tom should enjoy China (while he's here).
[2] Tom should enjoy watching this film. I know he like's Bruce Lee.

"should" has more than one meaning. It could mean ought to or probably will or most likely will.

I suspect that difference in meaning might be the reason [1] and [2] sound 'a bit strange' to you.

Click here: should: Definition and Much More from Answers.com

All the best.

Thank you!

What makes me feel strange is not whether the word "should" is correctly used, but that the word "enjoy" is followed by a country,which does not match the definition given by Longman Dictionary -------"enjoy" is followed by something or people.

enjoy S1 W1 [transitive]
1 to get pleasure from something:
Sandra enjoys her job in the city.
I enjoyed every minute of it.
enjoy doing something
Young children enjoy helping around the house.
enjoy yourself (=be happy in a particular situation)
Julia was just starting to enjoy herself.