[Grammar] "Precise your question"

[erintabrett]

Hi there,

A few times I have come across people writing "Could you precise your question?", but this doesn't sound right to me. Could someone please help me to explain why this is incorrect? I think "Could you be more precise?" or "Could you clarify?" sound much better.

Thanks!

 

[Rover_KE]

Welcome to the forum.

You are right.

'Precise' is not a verb.

 

[emsr2d2]

Perhaps they meant "précis", meaning to shorten or abbreviate. If they wanted you to make your question more clear, they got the wrong word.

 

[GoesStation]

If the writers were Francophones, they may have been using a false cognate. French has a verb préciser which means "explain in more detail". It would be handy if English had a verb version of the noun "precise", but it doesn't.

 

[Polyester]

"precise" is also a adjective.
What do you think?

 

[emsr2d2]

"precise" is also a adjective.
What do you think?

Why did you say that it is also an adjective? What else do you think it is?

 

[Tdol]

A few times I have come across people writing "Could you precise your question?", but this doesn't sound right to me.

You will find many strange examples of usage on the internet. Some may catch on. This doesn't sound right to me either, but it may sound better in a few years if people like it.