Re: shifting usage of "want"

On Fri, Apr 18, 2008 at 2:10 PM, Mark J. Reed <markjreed@...> wrote:
> I'd say rather the beer tastes not, because it has no taste buds. :).
>  I think the English version needs an adjective in there somewhere...
It was a word-for-word translation -- like René's.

Interestingly, IML in German, "schmecken" can go without an adjective
primarily in negative and interrogative contexts -- both "Na,
schmeckt's?" (Well, tastes it?) and "Nein, es schmeckt nicht" (No, it
tastes not) are fine, but ?"Ja, es schmeckt" (Yes, it tastes) is not
quite the same; I'd be tempted to say "Ja, es schmeckt gut" (Yes, it
tastes good) instead.

On a similar note, consider "Ich muss mal!" -- which is literally "I
must <particle>", with the verb ("to go to the toilet") understood.
English has "Mom, I have to go!" with the destination understood but
still with a mandatory main verb.

And also "Ich möchte auf deinen Arm" (I want [sc. to go] onto your
arm)/"Ich möchte nicht ins Bett" (I don't want [sc. to go] to bed),
with an omitted-but-understood verb.

Cheers,
Philip
--
Philip Newton <philip.newton@...>

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