[lit-ideas] Re: "Bleach smells like bleach"
- From: Jlsperanza@xxxxxxx
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2005 14:16:01 EST
In a message dated 2/7/2005 12:20:20 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
pas@xxxxxxxx writes:
Perhaps Eastwood's character is wiser than he appears.
Dunno. I thought "Million dollar baby" was not fictional, but apparently it
is, so no way to trace if there's a real Frankie (other than the character
played by Eastwood) who said it.
More on the grammar of 'smell' below.
Cheers,
JL
---
From
_http://www.unt.edu/writing_center/Grammar_Review.html_
(http://www.unt.edu/writing_center/Grammar_Review.html)
Keep in mind that linking verbs-- appear, smell, look, become, feel, be,
seem, taste -- need a complement (adjective), not an adverb. Look at the
following examples.
NOT The lilacs smell sweetly. (lilacs have no nose, silly!)
USE The lilacs smell sweet. (lilacs have a sweet smell, which is a
quality: think ADJECTIVE instead of ADVERB)
Remember, you do not want to say how (adverb) the lilacs smell but rather
what (adjective) they smell like. As a result, you need a subject complement
(adjective)â??NOT an adverb. This is because "smell" is a linking verb.
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