I am free as a bird

Status
Not open for further replies.

jammyfellow

Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2015
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Turkish
Home Country
Turkey
Current Location
Turkey
If somebody ask to me that "What do you do?", can i answer the question like that?

I just graduated from my University which is called Ege University in Izmir. Nowadays, I am looking for a job. Metaphorically, i am free as a bird nonetheless i am a hectic person owing to the fact that i produce vermicompost which is Califoornia Worm Manure as a hobby.

Is there any meaning mistake in this sentence or gramatic boo-boo ?
 

Raymott

VIP Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2008
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
English
Home Country
Australia
Current Location
Australia
That reply doesn't say anything useful. Besides, it says what you are (which you apparently really aren't) , not what you do.

"What do you do?"
"I've just finished university, and I'm looking for a job."
 

SoothingDave

VIP Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
I am as free as a bird.
 

jammyfellow

Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2015
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Turkish
Home Country
Turkey
Current Location
Turkey
I see what you say. However, i need more complex and long answer in this case. Hence, can you give me some advices ? How should it be more complex with adding new points?
 

TheParser

VIP Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2009
Member Type
Other
Native Language
English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
grammatical/grammar boo-boo ?


***** NOT A TEACHER *****

I believe that it would be more correct to say, "I am as free as a bird."

Furthermore, English requires the personal pronoun "I" to always be capitalized, not just when it's the first word in a sentence.
 

jammyfellow

Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2015
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Turkish
Home Country
Turkey
Current Location
Turkey
That reply doesn't say anything useful. Besides, it says what you are (which you apparently really aren't) , not what you do.

"What do you do?"
"I've just finished university, and I'm looking for a job."

I see what you say. However, i need more complex and long answer in this case. Hence, can you give me some advices ? How should it be more complex with adding new points?
 

Raymott

VIP Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2008
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
English
Home Country
Australia
Current Location
Australia
I don't understand your question.
I assumed that you knew that "What do you do?" means "What work do you do?". Since you aren't working, you explain why.
 

SoothingDave

VIP Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
We're all used to hearing Lynyrd Skynyrd so it sounds odd without the first "as."
 

TheParser

VIP Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2009
Member Type
Other
Native Language
English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Just in case some beginning and intermediate students are confused about the issue, may I try to clarify it?

"I feel as free as a bird" is the exact expression.

a. If your teacher were to ask you to parse the sentence (a very unlikely possibility, I realize), you would have to take into consideration the first and the second "as."

b. It is true that many native speakers drop the first "as."

c. My personal advice to you: use both the first and second "as," especially if you are doing some formal speaking or writing.

d. As you become more fluent and speak English with more confidence, it would be fine to drop the first "as" -- especially in relaxed conversation with friends and colleagues. (For example: "I'm (as) hungry as a bear." )
 

Roman55

Key Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2014
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Italy
Current Location
France
I am not a teacher.

I think there is a possible nuance of meaning here that most people probably wouldn't care about, but nevertheless.

How free are you? I am as free as a bird = My freedom is equal to that of a bird's.
How are you? I am free as a bird = I am free in the same way that a bird is free.
 

MikeNewYork

VIP Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
I really don't see the nuance there.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top