Re: pro-anything

Nik Taylor <fortytwo@...> wrote:
> Fabian wrote:
> > pro-verbs
> >     to do (who killed the taxman? he did it!)
> >     to be (Who is lying on the floor? He is!)
>=20
> Actually, I don't think those are pro-verbs at all.  He did it =3D He d=
id
> the killing.  To be classified as a "pro-verb", it would have to be abl=
e
> to function in all the situations a verb can.  Compare pronouns.
>=20
> Jane saw Bill --> She saw him
> Jane's book --> her book
> with Bill --> with him
>=20
> and so on.  Anywhere you can put a noun, you can put the corresponding
> pronoun.
Almost. You can't modify a pronoun with an adjective
(in English, at least), except in constructions like
"Angry and frustrated, he walked" which would be more
like short for "Feeling angry..." (i. e. adverbial, not
adjectival).

Of course your argument is true with respect to "do" as
a pro-verb: it is not one. But it comes close -- it can
take almost any meaning!


--Pablo Flores

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
En gian idgrivar fr=FAmneltel frasi=E9rraser gian pavonn
be i malladhar siqged=FCer.

"Don't blame your enemy for your disgrace=20
 if you've just given them a chance."

(Traditional Dr=E1selhadh saying)