the verb "accustomed"

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

donna_890 - 22 May 2009 14:08 GMT

It is transitive and always seems to be used in the passive or with
the auxiliary verb "have". Why?

Reply to this Message

Athel Cornish-Bowden - 22 May 2009 14:58 GMT

> It is transitive and always seems to be used in the passive or with
> the auxiliary verb "have". Why?

I don't think your premise is true, so the question of why it might be
true doesn't arise.

Signature

athel

Reply to this Message

georgeh@ankerstein.org - 22 May 2009 21:56 GMT

> It is transitive and always seems to be used in the passive or with
> the auxiliary verb "have". Why?

Please give us an example of your use of
"accustomed" as a verb.

GFH

Reply to this Message

Robert Lieblich - 22 May 2009 22:19 GMT

> > It is transitive and always seems to be used in the passive or with
> > the auxiliary verb "have". Why?
>
> Please give us an example of your use of
> "accustomed" as a verb.

Example: With diligent effort, I accustomed myself to running a
minimum of five miles a day.

Another: I became accustomed to the New York subway through months of
riding it every day.

Here's a present-tense version: They accustom themselves to hardship
through perseverence.

(Obviously, It's fairly common to encounter "accustom[ed]" with a
reflexive pronoun.)

By analogy to my second example, I'd argue that the past participle
form has become an independent adjective and is not really part of a
passive in such sentences as "I am accustomed to running five miles a
day." Not that it makes much difference.

Signature

Bob Lieblich
Accustomed to her face

Reply to this Message

donna_890 - 23 May 2009 02:19 GMT

> geor...@ankerstein.org wrote:
>
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
> Bob Lieblich
> Accustomed to her face

I'd argue that the past participle

> form has become an independent adjective and is not really part of a
> passive in such sentences as "I am accustomed to running five miles a
> day."

So, instead of the passive form of the verb, "to be" + accustomed is
simply a linking verb with a past participle adjective. Don't know
how I could've missed that, but thank you.

Reply to this Message

georgeh@ankerstein.org - 23 May 2009 13:46 GMT

> > geor...@ankerstein.org wrote:
>
[quoted text clipped - 34 lines]
> simply a linking verb with a past participle adjective. Don't know
> how I could've missed that, but thank you.

By not recognizing words which are not verbs as verbs. Like "to
parent".

GFN

Reply to this Message

donna_890 - 23 May 2009 14:57 GMT

On May 23, 5:46 am, geor...@ankerstein.org wrote:

> > > geor...@ankerstein.org wrote:
>
[quoted text clipped - 41 lines]
>
> - Show quoted text

Another example: I am prepared. I am tortured. I am twisted.

Reply to this Message

Discussion Groups / English Usage / May 2009

the verb "accustomed"