Comments on Of Active and Passive Verbs... and FrogsTypePad2010-11-03T06:39:08ZDavid Bognerhttps://www.treppenwitz.com/tag:typepad.com,2003:https://www.treppenwitz.com/2010/11/active-passive-verbs/comments/atom.xml/Zvika commented on 'Of Active and Passive Verbs... and Frogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef0133f647f8b6970b2010-11-21T08:29:55Z2010-11-21T08:29:55ZZvikaGood job! Just this week I had a similar thing happen with my neighbors (why is it always the elderly...<p>Good job! </p>
<p>Just this week I had a similar thing happen with my neighbors (why is it always the elderly neighbors who pick fights in this country?!) and I told the guy and his family that I wasn't going to accept their apology as they worded it - they used the exact same "לא הבנת אותי/אני מצטער שנפגעת" wording! - and they had better try again if they didn't want me calling the police (let's just say the guy did something very illegal that in the US would have warranted me calling the police). They backed down only after I said to the guy in Arabic that I speak Arabic as well and that I understand much more than they think I do.</p>
<p>And yes, Israelis have a great deal of ignorance about their own language. Take it from a linguist, they don't like it when you point out mistakes they make, especially if you sound American.</p>settlersofsamaria commented on 'Of Active and Passive Verbs... and Frogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef0133f5acbe3b970b2010-11-08T10:15:58Z2010-11-08T10:15:58ZsettlersofsamariaAs an English teacher in Israel, part of the job when teaching English is teaching how to complain and apologize...<p>As an English teacher in Israel, part of the job when teaching English is teaching how to complain and apologize correctly and tactfully. This is something that Israelis don't have any clue about in Hebrew. It is very cultural.</p>
<p>Also - one thing that drives me nuts about Israelis is their failure to use the correct conjugation for 1st person future.<br />
For example: אני יגיע instead of אני אגיע. </p>
<p>I can totally identify with your story. Great post!</p>ProfK commented on 'Of Active and Passive Verbs... and Frogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef0133f5a93412970b2010-11-07T21:29:19Z2010-11-07T21:29:19ZProfKhttp://conversationsinklal.blogspot.comErr Bryan, it's participles that should not be dangling, not prepositions. And David, perhaps I can help with the metaphor/simile...<p>Err Bryan, it's participles that should not be dangling, not prepositions. And David, perhaps I can help with the metaphor/simile problem. Both are comparisons; however, when you use a metaphor you are saying one thing is exactly and completely another thing--"She is a witch." A simile uses like or as and usually some type of modifier as well to say what particular point or trait you are comparing--"She looks like a witch," "She's as scary as a witch."</p>
<p>As for standing up for yourself and demanding a proper apology, good for you. Turning the other cheek only gets you paatched on the other cheek.</p>a Living Nadneyda commented on 'Of Active and Passive Verbs... and Frogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef0133f5a8d04d970b2010-11-07T19:56:56Z2010-11-07T19:56:56Za Living Nadneydahttp://nad-ned.blogspot.com/You didn't just get your apology, you gave a little push to the rest of us. Thanks.<p>You didn't just get your apology, you gave <a href="http://nad-ned.blogspot.com/2010/11/rivkas-death-has-really-driven-home" rel="nofollow">a little push</a> to the rest of us. Thanks.</p>Jordan Hirsch commented on 'Of Active and Passive Verbs... and Frogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef0133f591016c970b2010-11-04T01:05:56Z2010-11-04T01:05:56ZJordan HirschIt was not an interchangeable politician. The non denial denial and the non apology apology were the work of the...<p>It was not an interchangeable politician. The non denial denial and the non apology apology were the work of the Nixon White House. The terms come from "All The Presidents Men."</p>bratschegirl commented on 'Of Active and Passive Verbs... and Frogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef0133f5900a4b970b2010-11-03T21:26:42Z2010-11-03T21:26:42ZbratschegirlAh, yes, the non-apology. Back here in your ancestral home we seem to make rather an art of it; you'd...<p>Ah, yes, the non-apology. Back here in your ancestral home we seem to make rather an art of it; you'd hardly be immune if you hadn't made aliyah, although here you'd be missing out on the delightful secondary layer of impugning your comprehension. We were all doomed once the first "Mistakes were made" was uttered by whichever interchangeable politician did so...</p>At The back of the Hill commented on 'Of Active and Passive Verbs... and Frogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef0133f58fde2e970b2010-11-03T20:51:31Z2010-11-03T20:51:31ZAt The back of the Hillhttp://atthebackofthehill.blogspot.com/I applaud you action. The last time someone told me "I'm sorry your feelings were hurt", I told them that...<p>I applaud you action. The last time someone told me "I'm sorry your feelings were hurt", I told them that I was the one who actually was sorry. Then I indeed made a federal case out it.</p>Ilana-Davitata commented on 'Of Active and Passive Verbs... and Frogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef013488afa147970c2010-11-03T19:05:19Z2010-11-03T19:05:19ZIlana-Davitatahttp://ilanadavita.wordpress.com/Nice linguistic post. And you do have a way with blog titles.<p>Nice linguistic post. And you do have a way with blog titles.</p>alex commented on 'Of Active and Passive Verbs... and Frogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef0133f58ec12c970b2010-11-03T17:25:26Z2010-11-03T17:25:26ZalexSorry to be "that guy" but as one who also learned English as an adult I have to point out...<p>Sorry to be "that guy" but as one who also learned English as an adult I have to point out that</p>
<p>אני תצטער שנפגעתה</p>
<p>Should read:</p>
<p>אני מצטער שנפגעת</p>
<p>(no hey after נפגעת even though it's pronounced "nifga'ata" and present tense for the verb להצטער)<br />
</p>Jordan Hirsch commented on 'Of Active and Passive Verbs... and Frogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef013488adced9970c2010-11-03T13:55:40Z2010-11-03T13:55:40ZJordan Hirsch1776, Stage version:Sherman: Mr. Adams, Dear Mr. Adams, I cannot write with any style or proper etiquette, I don't know...<p>1776, Stage version:Sherman: Mr. Adams, Dear Mr. Adams, I cannot write with any style or proper etiquette, I don't know a preposition from a predicate, I am just a simple cobbler from Connecticut</p>
<p>1776, Film version: Sherman: Mr. Adams, Dear Mr. Adams, I cannot write with any style or proper etiquette, I don't know a participle from a predicate, I am just a simple cobbler from Connecticut </p>Bryan commented on 'Of Active and Passive Verbs... and Frogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef013488ad90ae970c2010-11-03T13:05:32Z2010-11-03T13:05:32ZBryanI totally agree with your opinion here. As someone who's learning Hebrew, I find it incomprehensible when native Hebrew speakers...<p>I totally agree with your opinion here. As someone who's learning Hebrew, I find it incomprehensible when native Hebrew speakers screw up "eleh" (those) and "elu" (which, plural). It boggles my mind that they don't know the difference.</p>
<p>(And because I'm an incorrigible pedant: "prepositions" are not meant to be dangling, not "participles." But from a linguistic standpoint, leaving dangling prepositions is totally fine, so don't worry.)</p>Rami commented on 'Of Active and Passive Verbs... and Frogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef013488ad8fbd970c2010-11-03T13:05:06Z2010-11-03T13:05:06ZRami A stiff apology is a second insult... The injured party does not want to be compensated because he has been...<p><i>A stiff apology is a second insult... The injured party does not want to be compensated because he has been wronged; he wants to be healed because he has been hurt.</i> G. K. Chesterton (Author: <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/13468" rel="nofollow">The New Jerusalem</a>)</p>Noa commented on 'Of Active and Passive Verbs... and Frogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef0133f58d31d2970b2010-11-03T12:51:14Z2010-11-03T12:51:14ZNoaDavid, You read the situation entirely correctly...I once had a pig of a patient who was horrendous and then had...<p>David,<br />
You read the situation entirely correctly...I once had a pig of a patient who was horrendous and then had the nerve to write a complaint letter about me to the ombudsman of the hospital. I was told I had to write an apology in order to mollify the B#$%^, as she was threatening lawsuit. I told them the most I was willing to write was the passive form "אני מתנצלת שנפגעתה , לא היה כוונתי לפגוע בך" The hospital tried to make me use the active verb and I refused. And then the hospital further mollified the patient by pointing out that as a new immigrant, my grasp of grammar was spotty (implying that I would have been more apologetic if I knew how to use active tenses!!!)</p>
<p>But I am glad you held your ground...you deserved the full, active-tense apology </p>treppenwitz commented on 'Of Active and Passive Verbs... and Frogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef0133f58cf32c970b2010-11-03T12:02:37Z2010-11-03T12:02:37Ztreppenwitzhttp://www.treppenwitz.comRussell Gold... Sadly, many people forget just how much of a middle eastern country this is. If you force someone...<p>Russell Gold... Sadly, many people forget just how much of a middle eastern country this is. If you force someone to apologize, you can expect a settling of scores if they ever get the chance. Not always, mind you... but often enough to make many people rethink the value of forcing a confrontation rather then letting the insult pass.</p>Russell Gold commented on 'Of Active and Passive Verbs... and Frogs'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c581e53ef013488ad253a970c2010-11-03T11:40:12Z2010-11-03T11:40:12ZRussell GoldThe part that I have the hardest part understanding is why you think you've burned bridges. Forcing somebody to apologize...<p>The part that I have the hardest part understanding is why you think you've burned bridges. Forcing somebody to apologize when he clearly knows he was in the wrong shouldn't be an issue unless he was needlessly embarrassed. His first "apology" clearly wasn't one - it was more "I'm sorry I got caught" than "I'm sorry I did wrong."</p>