I find climbing that mountain difficult.

neb090

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1. I find climbing that mountain is difficult.
2. I find it difficult to climb that mountain.
3. I find him not a student.
4. I find the book not on the table.

I made the four sentences by myself. Are grammatically correct?
 

emsr2d2

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1. I find climbing that mountain is difficult. ✅ if you remove "is".
2. I find it difficult to climb that mountain. ✅
3. I find him not a student. ❌
4. I find the book not on the table. ❌

I made wrote the four sentences by myself. Are they grammatically correct?
Please note my corrections and comments above. As you can see, 3 and 4 are wrong and I don't know what you're trying to express with them. Please try to explain them using different words.
 

neb090

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Please note my corrections and comments above. As you can see, 3 and 4 are wrong and I don't know what you're trying to express with them. Please try to explain them using different words.
For my 3 and 4, I see "find" as an incomplete transitive verb, and I am trying to use the structure of

" S + incomplete transitive verb + object + object complement."

I find (incomplete transitive verb) him (object) not a student. (object complement)

I am wondering how I can use this structure in negative forms.
 
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teechar

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For me, #4 is not impossible.
For example:
I go into the room looking for that rare volume which I left on a table there. I find the book not on the table, and I panic immediately.
 

jutfrank

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I think we need to straighten out the question here. For me, all four sentences are grammatical, regardless of how bad they are. I don't think grammaticality is primarily what the OP is interested in.
 
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jutfrank

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For my 3 and 3, I see "find" as an incomplete transitive verb, and I am trying to use the structure of

" S + incomplete transitive verb + object + object complement."

I find (incomplete transitive verb) him (object) not a student. (object complement)

I am wondering how I can use this structure in negative forms.

Focus on how to use the verb 'find' to express an effect or impression that something has upon you.

I find him boring.
I find grammar very easy.
I find Ken to be quite rude at times.


Each example expresses a subjective personal impression that an object has on you. A factual claim such as something not being on the table doesn't work here.

To negate these propositions, you negate the verb 'find', not the adjective phrases:

I don't find him boring.

Logically, you can negate the predicate, but it's usually better simply to use an alternative word instead:

I find him not boring.
I find him interesting.
 

neb090

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Focus on how to use the verb 'find' to express an effect or impression that something has upon you.

I find him boring.
I find grammar very easy.
I find Ken to be quite rude at times.


Each example expresses a subjective personal impression that an object has on you. A factual claim such as something not being on the table doesn't work here.

To negate these propositions, you negate the verb 'find', not the adjective phrases:

I don't find him boring.

Logically, you can negate the predicate, but it's usually better simply to use an alternative word instead:

I find him not boring.
I find him interesting.
Do you mean "I find him not a student." and " I find the book not on the table." is acceptable, but not idiomatic?
 

jutfrank

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No. Didn't you read my post #6?

Just tell us what you're trying to say and we'll tell you how to say it. At the moment, we have virtually no idea of what you mean.
 

neb090

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No. Didn't you read my post #6?

Just tell us what you're trying to say and we'll tell you how to say it. At the moment, we have virtually no idea of what you mean.
I got it. Thanks.
 

Riyan17

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Climbing that mountain is undeniably challenging. The steep incline demands physical strength and mental fortitude. Every step requires determination, pushing beyond one's limits. Yet, amidst the struggle, there's an exhilarating sense of achievement with each foothold gained. Overcoming obstacles, both external and internal, defines the journey. Despite the difficulty, the allure of reaching the summit propels climbers forward, making the struggle worthwhile.
 

teechar

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Hi Riyan17, and welcome to the forum. :)
What is your question, or more to the point, why did you post that piece of text above, and where did you get it from?!
 

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@Riyan17
You can't push beyond your limits. Your limits are your limits. You might do things you didn't know you could do, but that's different.
 
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For me, #4 is not impossible.
For example:
I go into the room looking for that rare volume which I left on a table there. I find the book not on the table, and I panic immediately.
For me, the second sentence of that example would be much more natural as:

I don't find the book on the table, and I panic immediately.

or as:

I find the book not to be on the table, and I panic immediately.
 

jutfrank

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That, I'm okay with .... but not that one.

You mean the first one you find okay? But you don't find it not to be not okay? Got it.


(Sorry, just joking. I'm waiting for the football to start. :))
 

teechar

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This, that, and the other. You know what I mean. ;)
 
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... but not that one.
How about with a different context?

I believe that he was lying when he said that the book was on the table. I find the book not to be on the table. Go and see for yourself. You will find that it isn't there.
 

5jj

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I believe that he was lying when he said that the book was on the table. I find the book not to be on the table. Go and see for yourself. You will find that it isn't there.
I find that unnatural. ✅
I don't find that natural.✅
I find that not to be natural. ❌
 

Tarheel

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How about with a different context?

I believe that he was lying when he said that the book was on the table. I find the book not to be on the table. Go and see for yourself. You will find that it isn't there.
I think he was lying when he said the book wasn't on the table. I didn't see it there.

If you insist on using "find" you could say, "I looked for it, but I didn't find it there."
 
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