Home » Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

A Way with Words, a radio show and podcast about language and linguistics.

Discussion Forum (Archived)

Please consider registering
Guest
Forum Scope


Match



Forum Options



Min search length: 3 characters / Max search length: 84 characters
The forums are currently locked and only available for read only access
sp_TopicIcon
Give it a try!
Raffee
Iran
238 Posts
(Offline)
1
2012/07/29 - 6:00am

Which is correct?

1. I'll give it a try doing something

2. I'll give a try doing something

3. I'll give it a try to do something

Guest
2
2012/07/29 - 8:43am

"It" needs an antecedent.   That is a noun or noun phrase that it refers back to.   The key word here is "back".   In your examples #1 and #3 you are trying to refer forward to "doing something" and that won't work.   If you have a previous sentence defining "it", you can just say, "I'll give it a try."   For example: "They say bicycling is easy.   I'll give it a try."

Your example #2 could work but it is a little awkward. "I'll give a try bicycling" should be rearranged to "I'll give bicycling a try" and it flows a lot smoother.

Guest
3
2012/07/29 - 1:35pm

There are areas like this that are not addressed by the cold mechanics of grammar and syntex, some place for a 'living sense' of a language. Is there an English word for that? --something that is not grammar but still implies more of 'rule' than, say, 'common usage' would.

Guest
4
2012/07/30 - 10:21am

I agree with Dick's judgement:   "I'll give it a try", or "I'll give bicycling a try".   You can also say "I'll try bicycling", but of course Rafee was asking specifically about "give it a try".

Forum Timezone: UTC -7
Show Stats
Administrators:
Martha Barnette
Grant Barrett
Moderators:
Grant Barrett
Top Posters:
Newest Members:
A Conversation with Dr Astein Osei
Forum Stats:
Groups: 1
Forums: 1
Topics: 3647
Posts: 18912

 

Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 618
Members: 1268
Moderators: 1
Admins: 2
Most Users Ever Online: 1147
Currently Online:
Guest(s) 86
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)

Recent posts