Problems with English? Questions? Vocabulary, grammar... Post here :)

Aquarius_Girl · 10-21-2010, 11:36 PM

When some person dies, we say it as follows:

Quote:

You know, X's father has expired !

Is expired the correct word here ?

I find the following too sharp:

Quote:

You know, X's father has died !

H_TeXMeX_H · 10-22-2010, 06:22 AM

I would say 'You know, X's father has passed away !'. Expired is more for consumer goods than people.

Technically, I tend to be blunt, so actually I'd say: He died.

esteeven · 10-22-2010, 06:42 AM

We would tend to use euphemistic expressions to refer to death e.g.

He's gone to meet his maker.
She's gone to a better place.
He's no longer with us.
She's pushing up the daisies.

etc. etc.

I personally would avoid the word DEATH.

This list amused me : I wouldn't use half of the expressions but others might.
http://www.listology.com/rosiecotton...eathdeadto-die

brianL · 10-22-2010, 07:23 AM

Well, I prefer to avoid euphemisms, such as "passed away". And "expired" is usually for things like TV licenses. But if you feel uncomfortable using "died", say "passed away".
I like that list you linked to, esteeven.

H_TeXMeX_H · 10-22-2010, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by esteeven

He's gone to meet his maker.
She's gone to a better place.
He's no longer with us.
She's pushing up the daisies.

I'm not one to use euphemisms, but I must say that the first 2 are ridiculous ... how can you possibly know ?

#3 is ok.

#4 is more of a joke ... you say this while laughing ...

MrCode · 10-22-2010, 09:36 AM

When speaking of death, I would just say "he/she's gone" or similar. Either that, or I just say, straight out, "he/she/it's dead". I'm not really one to use the religious metaphors, either ("gone to meet his/her maker", etc.).

And then of course there's the old Star Trek one: "He's dead, Jim".

druuna · 10-22-2010, 10:35 AM

Monty python comes to mind

Dead parrot sketch:

Quote:

Mr. Praline: 'E's not pinin'!
'E's passed on!
This parrot is no more!
He has ceased to be!
'E's expired and gone to meet 'is maker!
'E's a stiff!
Bereft of life, 'e rests in peace!
If you hadn't nailed 'im to the perch 'e'd be pushing up the daisies!
'Is metabolic processes are now 'istory!
'E's off the twig!
'E's kicked the bucket, 'e's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisibile!!
THIS IS AN EX-PARROT!!

brianL · 10-23-2010, 06:10 AM

One the Python team missed out:
'E's popped 'is clogs.

hughetorrance · 10-23-2010, 01:13 PM

My biggest fear of dying and going to hell is I will bump into onebuck... LOL (only joking)

smeezekitty · 10-23-2010, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hughetorrance

My biggest fear of dying and going to hell is I will bump into onebuck... LOL (only joking)

LOL

H_TeXMeX_H · 10-23-2010, 02:04 PM

I'm not afraid of death ... in fact, I'm not afraid of anything

hughetorrance · 10-23-2010, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H_TeXMeX_H

I'm not afraid of death ... in fact, I'm not afraid of anything

How about your fear of drawing and publishing your self portrait... LOL

ps you are right to fear no thing... !

H_TeXMeX_H · 10-23-2010, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hughetorrance

How about your fear of drawing and publishing your self portrait... LOL

But .... the ... the black helicopters ...

Actually, I did draw a self portrait once ... it was psychotic, I drew it partly like a shattered mirror with a large eye in the background. Not sure why I drew it, it just came out that way. I may still have it, or it may be with the art teacher. It was hard to make, I needed a mirror.

Aquarius_Girl · 11-17-2010, 02:37 AM

Is this statement "Grammatically" correct ?

Quote:

Shakespeare would have faced a tough competition had he been alive today

You will be surprised to know that "expired" is used *very* commonly in India while referring to someone's death

No idea why !!

catkin · 11-17-2010, 03:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anishakaul

Is this statement "Grammatically" correct ?

You will be surprised to know that "expired" is used *very* commonly in India while referring to someone's death

No idea why !!

AFAIK it is perfectly acceptable but the "a" is unnatural and pedantically it should be "Shakespeare would have faced tough competition were he alive today" because the "if" makes the being conditional.

From the Free Dictionary (my bolding): "Usage: Were, as a remnant of the past subjunctive in English, is used in formal contexts in clauses expressing hypotheses (if he were to die, she would inherit everything), suppositions contrary to fact (if I were you, I would be careful), and desire (I wish he were there now). In informal speech, however, was is often used instead".

EDIT: There are many usages in Indian English that differ from English English; they may be direct translation of Indian languages; they may be older forms that were in use in English English but have been dropped from modern English English.