[Grammar] back here I can't even hold a job PARKING CARS!

[kadioguy]

(In the movie First Blood)

John Rambo: Back there I could fly a gunship, I could drive a tank, I was in charge of million dollar equipment, back here I can't even hold a job PARKING CARS!

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Grammatically, can I take the blue part to mean this?

I can't even hold a job (of) PARKING CARS!

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(At 2:04-2:14)

 

[jutfrank]

No.

 

[kadioguy]

No.

Thank you for the reply, jutfrank.

How about this way?

I can't even hold a job (even one like) PARKING CARS!

 

[GoesStation]

I don't think this kind of analysis is fruitful.

 

[kadioguy]

I don't think this kind of analysis is fruitful.

But I don't understand the structure of it. :-?

 

[GoesStation]

But I don't understand the structure of it. :-?

Why do you want to? I don't understand the phrase's structure, either — at least, I can't explain it — but that doesn't prevent me from understanding its meaning.

 

[kadioguy]

Why do you want to?

I am afraid that l would say or write ungrammatical sentences because of lacking English grammatical skills, so l would like to do my best to understand and analyze/analyse any sentences l encounter.

 

[GoesStation]

If you must, you can understand the phrase as a shortened version of I can't even hold a job [which consists of] PARKING CARS. But given that native speakers don't do this kind of exercise, I can't see how it's going to help you.

 

[teechar]

The "-ing" form is a participle phrase modifying (describing/adding detail to) the object "job".

 

[emsr2d2]

If you learn some example sentences using this construction, you'll be able to recognise it and, in the longer term, use it correctly yourself.

I have a job parking cars.
He had a job baking cakes.
She wants a job working with animals.

As GoesStation said, if it helps you understand it, imagine "that consists of" or "that involves" after "job".

 

[jutfrank]

You can think of the structure as: a job + -ing

You don't need to do any restructuring in order to learn this. The steps to learning are as follows:

1) First, focus on the meaning (which is clear from the context).
2) Second, notice the grammatical structure that yields the meaning.
3) Third, look at several examples of use (such as in post #10 above).
4) Fourth, try to make your own example sentence using the structure. (Don't change the structure.)

Post your attempt at stage 4 below.

 

[kadioguy]

You can think of the structure as: a job + -ing

You don't need to do any restructuring in order to learn this. The steps to learning are as follows:

1) First, focus on the meaning (which is clear from the context).
2) Second, notice the grammatical structure that yields the meaning.
3) Third, look at several examples of use (such as in post #10 above).
4) Fourth, try to make your own example sentence using the structure. (Don't change the structure.)

Before this thread, I could see that the structure is a job + -ing, but I didn't know what "a job + -ing" grammatically means. I thought, "Why can 'a job' be followed by 'PARKING CARS'?" "How can I make this structure clearer and easier to understand?"

I find that the explanations of the structure on post #8, #9, and #10 very useful. I don't know why, but with the explanations I do feel more confident.

Post your attempt at stage 4 below.

OK, I'll try it below:

I have a job teaching English.
You have a job driving a taxi.
He has a job serving customers.
We all have jobs working with people.

 

[GoesStation]

I find [STRIKE]that[/STRIKE] the explanations of the structure [STRIKE]on[/STRIKE] in posts #8, #9, and #10 very useful.

See above.

 

[jutfrank]

I didn't know what "a job + -ing" grammatically means.

I have no idea what that means. What does "grammatically means" mean?

I thought, "Why can 'a job' be followed by 'PARKING CARS'?"

You don't need to ask why. Not if your aim is simply to acquire new language.

"How can I make this structure clearer and easier to understand?"

Again, I don't know what you mean. It is already as clear as possible. Also, you already understand it as well as possible.

I don't think I'll ever understand how your mind wants to approach learning, kadioguy, but I do know there's something very basically wrong with it.

I have a job teaching English.
You have a job driving a taxi.
He has a job serving customers.
We all have jobs working with people.

Excellent. Now take in what you've learnt and move on.

 

[kadioguy]

I have no idea what that means. What does "grammatically means" mean?

You don't need to ask why. Not if your aim is simply to acquire new language.

Again, I don't know what you mean. It is already as clear as possible. Also, you already understand it as well as possible.

I don't think I'll ever understand how your mind wants to approach learning, kadioguy, but I do know there's something very basically wrong with it.

Thank you for the reply, jutfrank.

I'll tell you the full story below:
--------

When I saw the sentence "I can't even hold a job PARKING CARS!", I thought,
"Why can 'a job' be followed by 'PARKING CARS'?"
"How can I make this structure clearer and easier to understand?"

"Um, I assume that it is a pattern similar to 'have difficulty/trouble (in) doing something', and 'take turns (in/at/on) doing something'."

"So it may also be some kind of short version. Let me look it up in dictionary."
"OK, I found this:

the job of doing something: No one wanted the job of painting the ceiling.
https://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/job_1?q=+job"

"Then can I see it as I can't even hold a job (of) PARKING CARS?"
"I don't know, but I will give it a try and ask the question on the UsingEnglish forum."
-----------

This is why I asked the question in post #1 here and why I thought "imagine 'that consists of' or 'that involves' after 'job'" (by emsr2d2) could help me. :up:

 

[jutfrank]

I see. Thanks for explaining.

There are two different patterns here:

1) a job + -ing
2) the job + of -ing

As you can notice, they have different meanings/uses. I wonder if you can sense the difference.

Note that you cannot mix the two forms to make: a job + of + -ing

 

[kadioguy]

There are two different patterns here:

1) a job + -ing
2) the job + of -ing

As you can notice, they have different meanings/uses. I wonder if you can sense the difference.

Let me try it:

(1) means, for example, "any job which involves parking cars".

(2) means, for example, "it is exactly the job of parking cars" (not other similar jobs).

 

[Tarheel]

Close enough.
:up:

 

[kadioguy]

Thank you all.

And I have a question:

a. ... back here I can't even hold a job PARKING CARS!

b. ... back here I can't even hold a PARKING-CARS job!

Do they mean the same thing? I assume they do. What do you think?

 

[GoesStation]

Thank you all.

And I have a question:

a. ... back here I can't even hold a job PARKING CARS!

b. ... back here I can't even hold a PARKING-CARS job!

Do they mean the same thing? I assume they do. What do you think?

B is so unnatural that its literal meaning is barely relevant. If someone looks at it closely, they'll understand that the speaker is trying to say what A says; they'll just wonder why it's worded so strangely.