[Vocabulary] human

[maiabulela]

Dear all,

Two prison escapees expecting to face a dog while they are attempting to escap.

A: There is a dog.
B: Why?
A: because my information is never wrong.
B: If they weren't human, we wouldn't have gone so far.

What is the meaning of "human" in this context? And what does it refer to?

At first, they hit a guard. Then, they expected a dog. I don't know if I can provide more context. but I can't get this "human" at all.

Thanks a lot.

 

[birdeen's call]

Who are "they" B is talking about?

 

[Khosro]

A thinks that a dog is chasing them. B thinks that they is no dog among them and they are all humans.

But I changed "human" to "humans".

 

[5jj]

A thinks that a dog is chasing them. B thinks that they is no dog among them and they are all humans.

But I changed "human" to "humans".

'human' (adjective) was fine.

 

[Khosro]

'human' (adjective) was fine.

Yes. I thought about it. But I couldn't find any interpretation for it. Who are human? Prison guards?

 

[maiabulela]

Who are "they" B is talking about?

I thought "they" is refering to "information" I dont know... may be the prison guards they attacked, it would have no sense, though.... :-(

 

[5jj]

Yes. I thought about it. But I couldn't find any interpretation for it. Who are human? Prison guards?

If they (the 'thing's following us) were not human (but were, as you claim, dogs) we would not have got so far.

 

[mara_ce]

I think that "they" refers to the prison guards. Maybe the prisoners are more afraid of dogs than human beings. So, if the prison guards were dogs, they (the prisoners) wouldn´t have gone so far.

 

[Khosro]

If they (the 'thing's following us) were not human (but were, as you claim, dogs) we would not have got so far.

Oh! So we can use "human" as an adjective in this sense. interesting!

 

[maiabulela]

Oh! So we can use "human" as an adjective in this sense. interesting!

it's not adj. here. It's short for "human being". The adj. is "humane".

 

[5jj]

it's not adj. here. It's short for "human being". The adj. is "humane".

I disagree; 'humane' has a different meaning. It is rare to use the adjective (for such it is) 'human' in the sense we are discussing unless it is followed directly by a noun (as with human being), but it is possible.