Can I choose "please" instead?

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gloria0402@gmail.com - 22 Jan 2007 06:37 GMT

Hi

Here is the sentence in question.

Lee's boyfriend has been trying to ___ her to get married. He even
ordered a diamond ring for her.
a) persuade b) please c) remind d) threaten

The answer is a), but my students think "please" also makes sense in
the sentence. What is your opinion? Thanks in advance.

Gloria

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Francis Cameron - 22 Jan 2007 13:25 GMT

>Hi
>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
>Gloria

======================================================

You are right and your students are partly on the wrong track. I suspect
they have interpreted the second 'to' [i.e. in the phrase 'to get
married'] as being the equivalent of 'in order to' or 'so that she will'
get married.

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Francis Cameron

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georgeh@ankerstein.org - 22 Jan 2007 13:35 GMT

> Hi
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> The answer is a), but my students think "please" also makes sense in
> the sentence. What is your opinion? Thanks in advance.

I love these tests. All four choices "make sense", but only a) is
going
to be heard or used. To me, "please" would imply sex; "remind" would
imply tht they were engaged but no wedding date had been set;
"threaten"
is just too kinky for me to consider.

GFH

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Tony Cooper - 22 Jan 2007 14:00 GMT

>Hi
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>The answer is a), but my students think "please" also makes sense in
>the sentence. What is your opinion? Thanks in advance.

I'm with you. The boyfriend may be trying to please the woman as part
of his overall campaign to win her affection, but he's trying to
persuade her to agree to the specific act of getting married.

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Tony Cooper
Orlando, FL

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Barbara Bailey - 22 Jan 2007 14:59 GMT

>Hi
>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
>Gloria

No, it doesn't. To "please her" is an action in itself; to make her
pleased. It would be marginally acceptable if the sentence were "He
was trying to please her enough for her to marry him." In other words,
if he were trying to make her so happy with him that she would agree
to marry him. I suspect that your students are coming from the
position that he's *asking* her, and are seeing "please" as though he
were repeatedly saying "Please?" i.e., he's begging her.

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mike.j.harvey@gmail.com - 23 Jan 2007 12:30 GMT

> I suspect that your students are coming from the
> position that he's *asking* her, and are seeing "please" as though he
> were repeatedly saying "Please?" i.e., he's begging her.

What do they think he'll do on the wedding night? Thank her a lot?

If that is the case, then surely the fact that more than one student
thinks this is a hint that the material is too advanced for them at
this stage in their learning?

Let's all breathe a sigh of relief that "convince" wasn't one of the
choices!

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Peacenik - 29 Jan 2007 10:15 GMT

> Hi
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> The answer is a), but my students think "please" also makes sense in
> the sentence. What is your opinion? Thanks in advance.

What is the native language of your students? Are they Chinese?

If so, they could be confusing the meaning of "please" with "ask" or "beg",
as the Chinese word "qing" can mean all three.

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Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2007

Can I choose "please" instead?