[Vocabulary] He lost concsiousness and plunged into a nightmare

[Marina Gaidar]

Is it possible to say "He lost concsiousness and plunged into a nightmare"?

 

[billmcd]

Possible? Yes. Probable? I don't think it's a good combination, but then authors/journalists take many liberties. It would depend on context and the remaining statements/dialogue.

 

[Marina Gaidar]

Possible? Yes. Probable? I don't think it's a good combination, but then authors/journalists take many liberties. It would depend on context and the remaining statements/dialogue.

What verb is more appropriate? May be "sink" instead of "plunge"?

 

[Gillnetter]

What verb is more appropriate? May be (Maybe) "sink" instead of "plunge"?

If you elect to use "sink" you would have to use the past tense of the word, "sunk". The problem I have with the sentence, regardless of the verb, is that there is the sense that the nightmare was going on before the person lost consciousness. As the person lost consciousness, he fell/sunk/plunged into an ongoing event (the nightmare). Because nightmares are usually thought of as originating in a person's mind during sleep, it is difficult to accept the concept that the nighmare was there while the person was alert. This is similar to saying, "He lost consciousness and plunged into Hell". Here, Hell is understood to be a place that had an existence prior to the person losing consciousness.

 

[emsr2d2]

"He lost consciousness and then descended into a nightmare" perhaps?

 

[billmcd]

What verb is more appropriate? May be "sink" instead of "plunge"?

The problem I have is "nightmare" in combination with losing consciousness. I just feel that when one loses consciousness the possibility of experiencing a nightmare or dream would be unusual. However, if the "nightmare" represented some external situation such as a fire or riot, I could understand. But again, context might help (me, at least). One other point, when I see the phrase "lost consciousness and plunged into a....." I expect to see the word "coma".

 

[emsr2d2]

The problem I have is "nightmare" in combination with losing consciousness. I just feel that when one loses consciousness the possibility of experiencing a nightmare or dream would be unusual. However, if the "nightmare" represented some external situation such as a fire or riot, I could understand. But again, context might help (me, at least). One other point, when I see the phrase "lost consciousness and plunged into a....." I expect to see the word "coma".

Ah, I see your point. Yes, you're right. We dream and have nightmares when we're asleep. I doubt we do either when we're unconscious but I suppose, in reality, we don't know.

 

[Marina Gaidar]

The problem I have is "nightmare" in combination with losing consciousness. I just feel that when one loses consciousness the possibility of experiencing a nightmare or dream would be unusual. However, if the "nightmare" represented some external situation such as a fire or riot, I could understand. But again, context might help (me, at least). One other point, when I see the phrase "lost consciousness and plunged into a....." I expect to see the word "coma".

I've been ambiguous. Sorry! I meant that a man lost his consciousness becase of the poison which provoked these half hallucinations half nightmare.

 

[emsr2d2]

I've been ambiguous. Sorry! I meant that a man lost his consciousness becase of the poison which provoked these half hallucinations half nightmare.

Ambiguity is not a problem. The problem is simply the fact that when someone loses consciousness, we can't possibly know if they dream, have nightmares or have hallucinations. Losing consciousness is not the same as simply falling asleep.