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Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2010see past
I would like to know whether 'past' in the following sentence is a preposition or an adverb. a) A negative person will curse their luck even in the face of good fortune, because they cannot see 'past' the green grass on the other side of the fence. I suppose the 'past' in the sentence above is a preposition, because you don't say b). b) ..... because they cannot see the green grass 'past'. Thanks a lot in advance. LP >I would like to know whether 'past' in the following sentence is a >preposition or an adverb. [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > >Thanks a lot in advance. In they cannot see 'past' the green grass 'past' means 'beyond'. It is a preposition.  SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in alt.english.usage) > In > they cannot see 'past' the green grass > 'past' means 'beyond'. It is a preposition. In case the OP is interested, an example of 'past' as an adverb would be 'I walked past the pub by mistake'. > In case the OP is interested, an example of 'past' as an adverb would be > 'I walked past the pub by mistake'. Sorry. that's wrong - it's a preposition likewise. The correct example should be 'Time marches past'. > > In case the OP is interested, an example of 'past' as an adverb would be > > 'I walked past the pub by mistake'. > > Sorry. that's wrong - it's a preposition likewise. > > The correct example should be 'Time marches past'. I really thank both of you. BTW, I feel uncertain about the meaning of "see past the green grass on the other side of the fence" Would you kindly paraphrase the sentence? LP >> > In case the OP is interested, an example of 'past' as an adverb would be >> > 'I walked past the pub by mistake'. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > >Would you kindly paraphrase the sentence? While the grass may appear to be greener on the other side of the fence, there may be unseen problems. SignatureTony Cooper - Orlando, Florida > On Sat, 9 Jan 2010 14:53:22 -0800 (PST), Lazypierrot > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > -- > Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida Thank you Tony, but I am afraid your interpretation might cause some incoherence in the following sentence a), because if you think even the seemingly greener grass on the other side of the fence might have some unseen problems, you need not curse your own luck. a) A negative person will curse their luck even in the face of good fortune, because they cannot see 'past' the green grass on the other side of the fence. How about the following interpretation or paraphrase? b) A negative person will curse thier luck even in the face of good fortune, because they cannot help noticing noticing the greener grass on the other side of the fence. LP >> On Sat, 9 Jan 2010 14:53:22 -0800 (PST), Lazypierrot >> [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] >fortune, because they cannot help noticing noticing the greener grass >on the other side of the fence. I'm sorry, but I don't see "luck" figuring in here at all. The "grass is greener" bit refers to thinking that other situations are better than your own. The "see past" bit refers to being realistic about what negative aspects those other situations might include. SignatureTony Cooper - Orlando, Florida ["past" as adverb or preposition] > I really thank both of you. BTW, I feel uncertain about the meaning > of "see past the green grass on the other side of the fence" > > Would you kindly paraphrase the sentence? The phrase mixes two metaphors, one more direct and physical, and one more like a short story. "To see past" something is to realise that it is not the most important factor, even though it may be the most noticeable one, and that other things must be considered. "The green grass on the other side of the fence" is a reference to the common expression "the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence", which means that people tend be envious, to think what others have is better than what they have themselves. The image is that of a grazing animal trying to get out of its own pasture, into the next one, to feed. You could rephrase it literally as "realise that, although conditions elsewhere may seem better than yours, there may also be other problems there that you haven't thought of". > ["past" as adverb or preposition] > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > elsewhere may seem better than yours, there may also be other problems > there that you haven't thought of". I really appreciate both of your kind paraphrases and explanations! LP |
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