King: hold the old man's hand

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Marius Hancu - 30 Jul 2009 13:22 GMT

Hello:

Which "old man" would this be? Not mentioned before that. Could it be
their father?

Also "tables sell" is a bit unusual. People sell, not tables.

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Outside the church hall tables sell fanzines and souvenirs. Kids with
blue and white scarves hold the old man's hand.

John King, The Football Factory, p.7
----

--
Thanks.
Marius Hancu

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Cheryl - 30 Jul 2009 13:49 GMT

> Hello:
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> John King, The Football Factory, p.7
> ----

Yes, the kids are holding their old man's hand, that's their father's hand.

It's like 'shops sell'. "I went to the mall to buy some clothes, but the
shops don't sell anything suitable. The shops sell clothing for skinny
teenagers."

Cheryl

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tony cooper - 30 Jul 2009 15:29 GMT

>Hello:
>
>Which "old man" would this be? Not mentioned before that. Could it be
>their father?
>
>Also "tables sell" is a bit unusual. People sell, not tables.

Not unusual at all. We wouldn't blink at "stores that sell shoes"
instead of "stores where shoes are sold".

>Outside the church hall tables sell fanzines and souvenirs. Kids with
>blue and white scarves hold the old man's hand.

I assume that the favored football team in that area has blue and
white for their colors, and the author is pointing out that the very
young are already fans and wearing their colors as they walk with
their fathers.

Signature

Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida

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Marius Hancu - 30 Jul 2009 16:56 GMT

> >Which "old man" would this be? Not mentioned before that. Could it be
> >their father?
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> young are already fans and wearing their colors as they walk with
> their fathers.

OK.

Thank you both.
Marius Hancu

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Derek Turner - 30 Jul 2009 17:28 GMT

>>Outside the church hall tables sell fanzines and souvenirs. Kids with
>>blue and white scarves hold the old man's hand.
>>
> I assume that the favored football team in that area has blue and white
> for their colors, and the author is pointing out that the very young are
> already fans and wearing their colors as they walk with their fathers.

That would be Chelsea, probably - next borough to Hammersmith and Fulham.

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Marius Hancu - 30 Jul 2009 17:31 GMT

> >>Outside the church hall tables sell fanzines and souvenirs. Kids with
> >>blue and white scarves hold the old man's hand.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> That would be Chelsea, probably - next borough to Hammersmith and Fulham.

Indeed.

Thanks.
Marius Hancu

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Discussion Groups / English Usage / July 2009

King: hold the old man's hand