wide/widely

[keannu]

Doesn't widely work here? Is it because wide is the result? I don't get it.

ex)Once this tree is older, it will grow (wide/widely) like the others in the forest.

 

[Tdol]

Not for me- it's a resultative adjective describing the tree, not the distribution of trees. Grow widely would mean that it could be found in many areas. It seems a funny choice of adjective, though; broad might work better.

 

[Afit]

In the English language, "verb plus adjective" constructions are one of the heaviest minefields (to me).

The tree grows bigger and bigger. (bigger = adjective)
The tree grows. :tick:

It is a non-copular usage of "grow".

In this sentence, the verb grow "retains" its full motion sense and the adverbial modifier is disguised in an adjective's garb.

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EDIT: The tree grows wide.
The tree becomes widepsread.
The tree grows.

I can't think of a pred. nom. complementation with "grow", which further distances "grow" from the true copula class.
This is again non-prototypical copula usage.

 

[Afit]

I meant wide, not wild.

 

[emsr2d2]

I meant wide, not wild.

And you used "wide" (not "wild") throughout your post as did all the people who commented.

 

[Afit]

And you used "wide" (not "wild") throughout your post as did all the people who commented.

In the English language, "verb plus adjective" constructions are one of the heaviest minefields (to me).

;-)

 

[Tdol]

I meant wide, not wild.

I just meant that a wide tree isn't a particularly natural sounding phrase to me- others may use it, though. :-D

 

[Afit]

EDIT: The tree grows wide.
The tree becomes widepsread.
The tree grows.
.

Is "The tree becomes widespread" a possible paraphrase for "The tree grows wide?" On second reading, I have to wave good-bye to my confidence.

 

[5jj]

I have to say that this thread is becoming a little surreal for me. The original question was about "Once this tree is older, it will grow (wide/widely) like the others in the forest".

I did not respond to the original post, because I did not know what the correct answer was supposed to be. I still don't.

I have tried to compose sentences with wide, widely, wild, wildly, widespread, but cannot come up with one that sounds natural to me.

 

[emsr2d2]

I have to say that this thread is becoming a little surreal for me. The original question was about "Once this tree is older, it will grow (wide/widely) like the others in the forest".

I did not respond to the original post, because I did not know what the correct answer was supposed to be. I still don't.

I have tried to compose sentences with wide, widely, wild, wildly, widespread, but cannot come up with one that sounds natural to me.

I know the feeling!

I don't think trees "grow wide". I think tree trunks grow to be wide. Perhaps the span of a tree can grow to be wide.

Describe that tree.
It's wide.
Did it grow that way?

I now can't answer that question! I would happily say that a tree grows tall but not that it grows wide. Hmmm, perhaps we have stumbled upon another great enigma of the English language.

 

[Hedwig]

So, what adjective would we use to describe a tree with an enormous crown, say, 8 metres in diameter?

 

[emsr2d2]

So, what adjective would we use to describe a tree with an enormous crown, say, 8 metres in diameter?

Well, that's the problem. I would describe that tree as wide. My problem was with using the word "wide" after the verb "to grow".

It is wide = that sounds fine.
The tree grows/grew wide = that sounds unnatural.

As I said before, I am having trouble thinking of a suitable word to put after "to grow" which would mean the same!

 

[5jj]

Well, that's the problem. I would describe that tree as wide. My problem was with using the word "wide" after the verb "to grow". [...]

As I said before, I am having trouble thinking of a suitable word to put after "to grow" which would mean the same!

I think I might well say just "it's big (round)". I have a similar problem with what to say after 'grow'. I think I'd probably just use 'big', reserving 'tall' for the height.

 

[Afit]

The tree is growing broad.
The tree is getting wider.

Are they okay, and are they more or less equal?