take the initiative

Status
Not open for further replies.

Maybo

Key Member
Joined
Feb 23, 2017
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Chinese
Home Country
Hong Kong
Current Location
Hong Kong
Am I using "take the initiative" correctly in the following conversation? I want to express doing something proactively.

John: How's your workout?
May: Um... I
only have a little progress.
John: I think you better workout in the park rather than at home. You'll not take the initiative to workout at home, especially when you see your bed.
 

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
Am I using "take the initiative" correctly in the following conversation? I want to express doing something proactively. No. See below.

John: How's your workout [regime] going?
May: Um... I
[STRIKE]only[/STRIKE] have made only/just a little progress.
John: I think [STRIKE]you[/STRIKE] it would be better [STRIKE]workout[/STRIKE] if you worked out in the park rather than at home. [STRIKE]You'll not[/STRIKE] You won't [STRIKE]take the initiative[/STRIKE] have the self-discipline to [STRIKE]workout[/STRIKE] work out at home, especially when you see your bed.

See above. Remember that "workout" is a noun, and "work out" is a verb.
 

Tdol

No Longer With Us (RIP)
Staff member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
Japan
But then, the person won't go to the park. ;-)
 

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
True. :lol:

If you want to use an emoticon, put it after the closing punctuation mark. The full stop should come after the final word of the sentence, followed by a space, then the emoticon.
 

bubbha

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2016
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
Taiwan
It's good to keep in mind that the phrase "take the initiative" in Chinese (主動) is used far more frequently in Chinese than it is in English. Normally where 主動 is used in Chinese, it can be omitted in English.
 

Tdol

No Longer With Us (RIP)
Staff member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
Japan
I 主動 from your knowledge of Chinese. ;-)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top