retain

[Allen165]

"He has retained my services."

Is it correct to say that? I think one can retain a person, but not his or her services. What do you think?

Thanks!

 

[Richard1]

Hi,

Yes that's perfectly OK and a quite natural expression.

Regards

 

[vil]

You may open the following link where you could see the usage of the expression in question at the very outset.

“George M. Pavia, Esq. retained my services to act as trial counsel in a lawsuit against James Cyril Couri."

Kenneth V. Gomez, Esq.: George M. Pavia, Esq. retained my services to act as trial counsel in a lawsuit against James Cyril Couri.


V.

 

[Allen165]

You may open the following link where you could see the usage of the expression in question at the very outset.

“George M. Pavia, Esq. retained my services to act as trial counsel in a lawsuit against James Cyril Couri."

Kenneth V. Gomez, Esq.: George M. Pavia, Esq. retained my services to act as trial counsel in a lawsuit against James Cyril Couri.


V.

I realize that some people would say "retain his/her services," but that doesn't mean it's correct to say that. I find it illogical, but language isn't always logical.

 

[Richard1]

Hi,

Believe me it is perfectly correct to talk about retaining someone's services rather than retaining the person themselves. I don't see anything illogical in it, but maybe that's because it is a perfectly natural expression.

Rgds

 

[Vidor]

not a teacher

I've never heard of retaining a person.

 

[Allen165]

Hi,

Believe me it is perfectly correct to talk about retaining someone's services rather than retaining the person themselves. I don't see anything illogical in it, but maybe that's because it is a perfectly natural expression.

Rgds

To retain is to employ, and I might employ someone to perform certain services, but I would not employ services because services cannot do work. That's my logic.

 

[Richard1]

Jasmin,

You'll just have to accept therefore that your logic on this occasion lets you down.

In any case what's the relevance of services and work even aside from the fact that of course services are work?

The question is about retaining something, and as you've been told there is nothing strange or illogical about retaining the services of someone else. Or in other words you are securing the right to call on that person to perform work or a service for you on some future occasion.

Just believe me.

Regards

 

[apex2000]

It may help you if you consider that 'my services' can be quite specific and that the person who provides these services is not necessarily employed by the retainee. You might retain the services of a plumber - you can call on him whenever you need him - but you don't employ him and when you get his bill it is for his services.

This is quite different from a person who is a retainer (usually in very large houses) as s/he is employed by the home owner.