English Grammar - Question tags

Question tags - Complex Test Exercises - Question tags

Use
frequently used in spoken English when you want s.o. to agree or disagree

Form
positive statement ->question tag negative - You are Tom, aren't you? negative statement->question tag positive - He isn't Joe, is he?

Examples
with auxiliaries You've got a car, haven't you? without auxiliaries (use: don't, doesn't, didn't) They play football on Sundays, don't they? She plays football on Sundays, doesn't she? They played football on Sundays, didn't they? Questions tags are used to keep a conversation going. You can agree or refuse to a sentence with a question tag. You go to school, don't you? You agree. You refuse. Yes, I do. No, I don't. You aren't from Germany, are you? You agree. You refuse. No, I'm not. Yes, I am.

Questions tags - Special

Although the negative word not is not in the sentence, the sentence can be negative. Then we use the "positive" question tag. He never goes out with his dog, does he? have is a main verb in the sentence -> two possibilities We have a car, _____? We have a car, haven't we? We have a car, don't we? mostly British English mostly American English We use will with the imperative (Simple Present). Open the window, will you? Don't open you books, will you? We use shall after Let's. Let's take the next bus, shall we? Auxiliary must We must be at home at 8 pm, mustn't we? Yes, we must. No, we needn't.

Procedure adding a question tag

Look at the sentence. 1 Is an auxiliary or a form of to be in the sentence? yes no affirmative sentence auxiliary or form of to be affirmative -> Negate sentence (e.g. don't; doesn't; -> negate auxiliary (add n't) didn't) auxiliary or form of to be negative -> (delete n't) 2 negative sentence -> (delete n't) Is a personal pronoun the subject of the sentence? yes no Use the personal pronoun. Form the personal pronoun. Complete the sentence.

Example 1: He can play football, ________. 1 Is an auxiliary or a form of to be in the sentence? yes -> can auxiliary or form of to be affirmative -> negate auxiliary (add n't) can't Is a personal pronoun the subject of the sentence? yes Use the personal pronoun. He can play football, can't he?

Example 2: Peter can play football, ________. 1 Is an auxiliary or a form of to be in the sentence? yes -> can auxiliary or form of to be affirmative -> negate auxiliary (add n't) can't Is a personal pronoun the subject of the sentence? no Form the personal pronoun. Peter -> he Peter can play football, can't he?

Example 3: Peter plays football, ________. 1 Is an auxiliary or a form of to be in the sentence? no affirmative sentence -> Negate the verb. verb plays -> Negation: doesn't play We only use the auxiliary doesn't. Is a personal pronoun the subject of the sentence?

no Form the personal pronoun. Peter -> he 3 Peter plays football, doesn't he?
hasn't he? Right. He's been to Texas, Dogs like meat,

don't they? Right. aren't there? Right. shall we? Right. doesn't he? Right.

There are some apples left, I'm late,

aren't I? Right.Let's go,

Don't smoke,

will you? Right.He does sing in the bathroom, will he? Right. isn't he? Right.

He'll never know,

I think, he's from India, Lovely day today,

isn't it? Right.

1) She is collecting stickers, isn't she? 2) We often watch TV in the afternoon, don't we? 3) You have cleaned your bike, haven't you? 4) John and Max don't like Maths, do they? 5) Peter played handball yesterday, didn't he? 6) They are going home from school, aren't they? 7) Mary didn't do her homework last Monday, did she? 8) He could have bought a new car, couldn't he? 9) Kevin will come tonight, won't he? 10) I'm clever, aren't I?

2)

WH Question Words

3) We use question words to ask certain types of questions (question word questions). We often refer to them as WH words because they include the letters WH (for example WHy, HoW). Question Word what Function asking for information about something asking for repetition or confirmation what...for when where asking for a reason, asking why asking about time asking in or at what place or position Example What is your name? What? I can't hear you. You did what? What did you do that for? When did he leave? Where do they live?

which

asking about choice asking what or which person or people (subject) asking what or which person or people (object) asking about ownership asking for reason, asking what...for making a suggestion asking about manner asking about condition or quality

Which colour do you want? Who opened the door?

who

whom

Whom did you see? Whose are these keys? Whose turn is it? Why do you say that? Why don't I help you? How does this work? How was your exam? see examples below How far is Pattaya from Bangkok? How long will it take? How many cars are there? How much money do you have? How old are you? How come I can't see her?

whose why why don't how

how + adj/adv how far how long how many how much how old how come (informal)

asking about extent or degree distance length (time or space) quantity (countable) quantity (uncountable) age asking for reason, asking why

Wh- Questions Click for Audio Wh- Questions allow a speaker to find out more information about topics. They are as follows: When? Time Where? Who? Why? How? What? Place Person Reason Manner Object/Idea/Action

Other words can also be used to inquire about specific information: Which (one)? Choice of alternatives Whose? Whom? How much? How many? How long? How often? How far? What kind (of)? Possession Person (objective formal) Price, amount (non-count) Quantity (count) Duration Frequency Distance Description

The "grammar" used with wh- questions depends on whether the topic being asked about is the "subject" or "predicate" of a sentence. For the subject pattern, simply replace the person or thing being asked about with the appropriate wh-word. (Someone has my baseball.) Who has my baseball? (Something is bothering you.)

What is bothering you?

For the predicate pattern, wh- question formation depends on whether there is an "auxiliary" verb in the original sentence. Auxiliary or "helping" verbs are verbs that precede main verbs. Auxiliary verbs are italicized in the following sentences. I can do it. They are leaving. I have eaten my lunch. I should have finished my homework. To make a question using the predicate pattern, first form a yes/no question by inverting the subject and (first) auxiliary verb. Then, add the appropriate wh- word to the beginning of the sentence. (You will leave some time.) ? will you leave When will you leave? (He is doing something.) ? is he doing What is he doing? (They have been somewhere.) ? have they been Where have they been? If there is no auxiliary and the verb is "be," invert the subject and verb, then add the appropriate wh- word to the beginning of the sentence. (He is someone.) ? is he Who is he? (The meeting was some time.) ? was the meeting When was the meeting? If there is no auxiliary and the verb is not "be," add do to the beginning of the sentence. Then add the appropriate wh-question word. Be sure to "transfer" the tense and number from the main verb to the word do. (You want something.) ? do you want What do you want? (You went somewhere.) ? did you go (past tense) Where did you go? (She likes something.) ? does she like (third person -s) What does she like?

Interjections
Hi! That's an interjection. :-) Interjection is a big name for a little word. Interjections are short exclamations like Oh!, Um or Ah! They have no real grammatical value but we use them quite often, usually more in speaking than in writing. When interjections are inserted into a sentence, they have no grammatical connection to the sentence. An interjection is sometimes followed by an exclamation mark (!) when written. Interjections like er and um are also known as "hesitation devices". They are extremely common in English. People use them when they don't know what to say, or to indicate that they are thinking about what to say. You should learn to recognize them when you hear them and realize that they have no real meaning. The table below shows some interjections with examples. interjection meaning expressing pleasure expressing realization ah expressing resignation expressing surprise alas dear expressing surprise asking for repetition eh expressing enquiry expressing surprise inviting agreement er hello, hullo expressing surprise hey calling attention "Hello! My car's gone!" "Hey! look at that!" expressing hesitation expressing greeting "Dear me! That's a surprise!" "It's hot today." "Eh?" "I said it's hot today." "What do you think of that, eh?" "Eh! Really?" "Let's go, eh?" "Lima is the capital of...er...Peru." "Hello John. How are you today?" expressing grief or pity expressing pity "Ah well, it can't be heped." "Ah! I've won!" "Alas, she's dead now." "Oh dear! Does it hurt?" example "Ah, that feels good." "Ah, now I understand."

expressing surprise, joy etc hi hmm expressing greeting expressing hesitation, doubt or disagreement expressing surprise oh, o expressing pain expressing pleading ouch uh uh-huh um, umm well introducing a remark expressing pain expressing hesitation expressing agreement expressing hesitation expressing surprise

"Hey! What a good idea!" "Hi! What's new?" "Hmm. I'm not so sure." "Oh! You're here!" "Oh! I've got a toothache." "Oh, please say 'yes'!" "Ouch! That hurts!" "Uh...I don't know the answer to that." "Shall we go?" "Uh-huh." "85 divided by 5 is...um...17." "Well I never!" "Well, what did he say?"

what do you want to do this evening? where do you want to go tomorrow? who is coming to the party? how do you like the food? which of these do you like? when does the party start? why don't you come? whose is the red car? how can you say that? what is his mother's name? when does it snow in England? where have you put my coat? which shop sells them? who are you talking to? whose hat is this? why are you wet? what is the time? who is the man in black? how is your cold? where can I buy one?

" Between a rock and a hard place " Meaning - In a very difficult situation when any resolution will be unpleasant " Blow your top " Meaning - To lose your temper " Break a leg " Meaning - Used to wish good luck to stage performers before an opening " By the skin of your teeth " Meaning - Complete a task at the very last minute " Drop someone a line " Meaning - To write to someone " Excuse my French " Meaning - An apology for swearing " Fire someone " Meaning - To end someone's your employment " Get your wires crossed " Meaning - A misunderstanding " Have an axe to grind " Meaning - To have an ulterior motive or a long term grudge against someone " Hit the sack " Meaning - To go to bed " Keep an eye out for " Meaning - To look after another Back To Square One - To start again Ball and chain: To be burdened with a task that that cannot be left or abandoned Beat a dead horse: To engage in pointless and repetitive discussion. Between the Devil and the deep blue sea. - In a very difficult situation when any resolution will be unpleasant. Bushed - Tired, completely exhausted Caught With Your Pants Down - Found out! Can't see your nose in front of your face: Being oblivious to something obvious, in clear view. Crash: To go to sleep Don't look a Gift Horse in the Mouth - To reject something that has been freely given Elbow Grease - A great deal of effort Flea Market - An open-air market Get out of hand - A situation which has resulted in chaos Hit the hay: To go to bed In your face - An aggressive manner Junk Mail - Unsolicited communications Kick the bucket: To die Let sleeping dogs lie - Not to interfere Mum's the word - To keep a secret New kid on the block - A newcomer Over the hill: To be past your prime Prick up your ears - To listen intently Rub someone up the wrong way - To annoy someone Spinning a yarn: To lie or exaggerate Tie the knot - To get married Under the weather - Feeling ill

Example: The train arrived at ten oclock. (what time) What time did the train arrive? 1. They do their homework at night. (when) 2. Mr. Robertson came to the party alone. (who) 3. The car is across the street from the house. (where) 4. I like the red blouse, not the blue one. (which)

5. She felt better after she took a nap. (how) 6. That is an English book. (what) 7. My sister called her boyfriend yesterday (when) 8. She talked to him for an hour. (how long) 9. He studies piano at the university. (what) 10. The party lasted all night. (how long) 11. The check was for $5.50. (how much) 12. She was eating a sandwich. (what) 13. She is working hard. (what) 14. My parents have two cars. (how many) 15. They are coming to visit tomorrow. (when) 16. He is going to work right now. (where) 17. The man with the white hat is my brother. (who) 18. I dont get up early because I like to sleep late. (why) 19. We have an English class every day. (how often) 20. They like to dance on weekends. (what) 21. The club is not far from their house. (where) 22. Their favorite kind of music is Latin Jazz. (what) 23. I didnt bring my dictionary today. (why) 24. They are singing popular songs. (what kind)

1. When do they do their homework. 2. Who did Mr. Robertson come to the party with? 3. Where is the car? 4. Which blouse do you like? 5. How did she feel? 6. What kind of book is that?/ What is that?/ What is that book? 7. When did your sister call her boyfriend? 9. What does he study at the university? 10. How long did the party last? 11. How much was the check for? 13. What is she doing? 14. How many cars do your parents have? 15. When are they coming to visit? 16. Where is he going right now? 17. Who is the man with the white hat? 18. Why don't you get up early? 19. How often do you have an English class? 20. What do they like to do on weekends? 21. Where is the club? 22. What is their favorite kind of music? 23. Why didn't you bring your dictionary today? 24. What kind of songs are they singing?

Figures of Speech
Robert I Bradshaw

Introduction
Idioms or figures of speech are combinations of words whose meaning cannot be determined by examination of the meanings of the words that make it up. Or, to put it another way, an idiom uses a number of words to represent a single object, person or concept. Unless you recognise when an idiom is being used you can easily misunderstand the meaning of a text. Modern translations, such as the NIV, use an equivalent figures of speech in English to translate many biblical idioms. More literal versions, particularly the King James Version, translate idioms word for word. It is the reader of the literal versions who needs to be most aware of the meanings of biblical idioms.

Figures of Comparison
Simile
Definition: The likening of one thing to another (usually translated using the English words "like" or "as".(1) For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has gone by, or like a watch in the night. (Psalm 90:4) "When calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over your like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you." (Prov. 1:27) Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full or dead mens bones and everything unclean. (Matt. 23:27) His head and hair were white like wool, as white a snow, and his eyes were like burning fire. (Rev. 1:14)

Metaphor
Definition: An implied comparison between two objects without the use of "like" or "as".(2) But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow your glory on me and lift up my head. (Psalm 3:3) You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? (Matt. 5:13) Now I want you to realise that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. (1 Cor. 11:3) And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. (Col. 1:18)

Idioms of Overstatement
Hyperbole

Definition: A exaggeration to make or reinforce a point. Perhaps the most famous (and most misunderstood) hyperbole is found in Matt. 19:24 (Mark 10:25; Luke 18:25): "...it is easier for an camel to go through the eye of needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Traditionally it has been said that there was a gate in the walls of Jerusalem called the "Needles Eye," through which an unladen camel could squeeze through with great difficulty. Unfortunately this interpretation is simply not true, there was no gate in Jerusalem called the "Needles Eye" and there never has been. The first reference to this is found in the writings of Theophylact, Archbishop of Achrida in Bulgaria in the 11th century.(3) Jerusalem had been destroyed twice by this time (in AD 70 and 134-136), but Theophylact had never visited it anyway. He simply made up the interpretation to get around the obvious meaning:(4)
After all, it is impossible for a camel to go through the eye of needle, and that was precisely Jesus point. It is impossible for one who trusts in riches to enter the kingdom. It takes a miracle for a rich person to get saved, which is quite the point of what follows: "All things are possible with God."(5)

Jesus was very found of hyperbole, and used it frequently in His teaching. Write out in your own words what you think the following verses mean. 1) If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters - yes, even his own life - he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26) _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ 2) If your right eyes causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. (Matt. 5:29) __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 3) It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seen you plant in the ground. (Mark 4:31) __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ Answers in endnote.(6)

Hendiadys
Definition: The combination of two or three things to express the same meaning.(7) The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1) Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom, prisoners suffering in iron chains, for they had rebelled against the words of God. (Psalm 107:10) ...encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. (1 Thess. 2:12) May the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thess. 5:23) ...while we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. (Tit. 2:13)

Idioms of Understatement
Irony
Definition: Stating one thing while meaning the exact opposite.(8) When used to taunt and ridicule irony is called sarcasm. Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble! (Judges 10:14) When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, "How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!" (2 Sam. 6:20) When he arrived, the king asked him, "Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall we refrain? "Attack and be victorious," he answered, "For the Lord will give it into the kings hand." (1 Kings 22:15)

The Job replied: "Doubtless you are the people, and wisdom will die with you." (Job 12:1-2) Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You arent swayed by men because you pay no attention to who they are." (Matt. 22:15-16) ...and they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it upon his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews" they said. (Matt. 27:29) Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have become kings and that without us! How I wish that you really had become kings so that we might be kings with you! (1 Cor. 4:8)

Litotes or Meiosis
Definition: A phrase that understates or lessens one thing in order to magnify another.(9) The Abraham spoke up again: "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes. (Gen. 18:27) We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We looked like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them. (Num. 13:33) Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob, O little Israel, ...for I myself will help you, declares the Lord. (Isa 41:14) Paul answered, "I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Please let me speak to the people. (Acts 21:39, italics added) For I am the least of all the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect (1 Cor. 15:9-10) Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:10)

Euphemism

Definition: The substitution of a cultured or less offensive term for a harsh one.(10) Monty Pythons famous "Parrot Sketch" utilises English euphemisms concerning death, e.g. "its snuffed it", "its pushing up the daisies", "its popped its clogs", "its shuffled off this mortal coil", etc. The Bible contains many similar expressions, particularly in subjects concerning death, bodily functions and reproduction. Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain (Gen. 4:1) You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a good old age. (Gen. 15:15) After he had gone, the servants came and found the doors of the upper room locked. They said, "he must be relieving himself in the inner room of the house." (Judges 3:24) Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his grey head go down to the grave in peace. (1 Kings 2:6) After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up." (John 11:11)

Antithesis
Definition: A direct contrast in which two sets if figures are set in opposition to one another.(11) Perhaps the best example of this in the New Testament is found in Romans 5:12, where Adam and Christ are the two figure being contrasted. So, justice is far from us and righteousness does not reach us We look for light, but all is darkness for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows. (Isa. 59:9) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned. (Rom. 5:12)

Exercise: Write down the two figures being contrasted in the following verses: 1) So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. (Gal 5:16) _______________________________________________________________

2) This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, in him there is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5) _______________________________________________________________ 3) But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. (Phil. 3:7) _______________________________________________________________ Answers in endnotes.(12)

Idioms Involving Omission

Ellipsis
Definition: A grammatically incomplete expression that requires the reader to add concepts in order to finish the thought.(13) Most of there omissions are already supplied by the translators of our Bibles. May the Lord cut off all flattering lips and [may the Lord cut off] every boastful tongue. (Psalm 12:3) Dont we have the right to food and drink? (1 Cor. 9:4)

Idioms of Association or Relationship

Metonymy
Definition: The substitution of a noun for another closely associated noun.(14) The substituted noun derives its meaning in the context its is used by the association produced in the readers mind. In contemporary English when we speak of a statement from the "White House" we understand that this is not a talking building, but an official communication with the authority of the President of the United States who lives in the White House. There are many Biblical examples of this idiom: "He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever." (1 Chron. 17:12) )Here Kingship is replaced by the word "throne" ."These double calamities have come upon you - who can comfort you? Ruin and destruction, famine and sword -" (Isa. 51:19) )Where "sword" stands for "judgement" (cf. Rom. 13:4, "bearing the sword" refers to capital punishment.)

Exercise: Complete the gaps in the following:

1) I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. (Isa. 22:22, cf. Matt. 16:19) "key"=________________ 2) My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart. (Psalm 7:10). "shield"=____________________ 3) Dogs have surrounded me, a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. (Psalm 22:16) "dogs"=__________________ 4) Abraham replied, They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them" (Luke 16:29) "Moses"=____________________ 5) God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor. 5:21) "he became sin"=_______________________________ 6) The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. (Acts 10:45) "Circumcised believers"=_________________ 7) His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the ruler and authorities in the heavenly realms. (Eph. 3:10; cf. 6:12) "rulers and authorities"=__________________________ 8) Woe to you, Ariel, Ariel, the city where David settled (Isaiah 29:1) "Ariel"=________________________ For answers see endnotes.(15)

Synecdoche
Definition: A figure of speech in which the part stands for the whole or the whole for the part.(16) He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. (Psalm 24:4) "Clean hands and a pure heart" stands for the whole person. Let me know that it is your hand, that you, O LORD, have done it. (Psalm 109:27) Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my father in heaven. (Matt 16:17) Eponymy is a sub-division of synecdoche in which an individual stands for the whole nation. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. (Psalm 24:6) Ephraim has surrounded me with lies, the house of Israel with deceit. And Judah is unruly against God, even against the faithful Holy One. (Hosea 11:12) Merismus is a combination of parts of the whole to express totality.(17) At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat upon the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well. (Exod. 12:29) He will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. (Psalm 72:8) My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:2)

Idioms Stressing the Personal Dimension

Personification

Definition: The representation of an object or concept as if it were a person.(18) Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech. (Prov. 1:20-21) The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began. (Prov. 8:22-23) A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. (Rev. 12:1)

Apostrophe
Definition: A development of personification in which the writer addresses the object or concept that he has personified.(19) The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains; rugged are the mountains of Bashan. where the Lord himself Why gaze in envy, O rugged mountains,will dwell forever. (Psalm 68:15-16) "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting." (1 Cor. 15:55)

Biblical Idioms and Everyday Speech

We often fail to realise how deeply the English language is in debt to the Bible. Having had the Scriptures available in the common tongue for over five centuries has meant that many Hebrew idioms and biblical sayings have become part of our language. This can be a handicap at times when reading the Bible because we are so familiar with saying which, to their original audience, were often meant to be startling. Consider the following examples and write a short explanation of what you think it means, including the biblical reference if you can. Then turn to the endnotes to see what it meant to the original readers of the Scriptures. 1) To kill the fatted calf.(20)

__________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 2) Be sure your sin will find you out.(21) __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 3) It covers a multitude of sins.(22) __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 4) Ah! The prodigal returns.(23) __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 5) Hiding your light under a bushel.(24) _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ 6) The mark of Cain.(25) _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ 7) Salt of the Earth.(26) _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ 8) In the lions den.(27) _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________

9) Eat, drink and be merry.(28) _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ 10) Weary in well-doing.(29) _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________

Further Reading
The most complete treatment of Biblical idioms is that by: E.W. Bullinger, Figures of Speech Used in the Bible Explained and Illustrated, 1898. Grand Rapids: Baker Books House, 1968 reprint.

Final Exercise
Identify the figure of speech used in each example (shown in italics). 1) And I tell you that on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (Matt. 16:18) A) Simile B) Hyperbole C) Metonymy D) Personification E) Litotes

2) Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth, I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

(Matt. 10:34) A) Hyperbole B) Antithesis C) Metonymy D) Personification E) A), B) & C above

3) When the Almighty scattered the kings in the land, it was like snow fallen on Zalmon. A) Litotes B) Metonymy C) Personification D) Simile E) Synecdoche

4) Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. (Psalm 50:5) A) Metaphor B) Simile C) Apostrophe D) Litotes E) Hyperbole

5) He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and your rampart. (Psalm 91:4) A) Metonym B) Metaphor C) Personification D) Irony E) Simile

6) Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth (Psalm 98:8-9) A) Metaphor B) Simile C) Merismus D) Personification E) Ellipsis

7) At noon Elisha began to taunt them, "Shout louder!" he said. "Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or travelling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened." (1 Kings 18:27) A) Metaphor B) Irony C) Mersimus D) Simile E) Personification

8) They rose greatly on the earth, and all the high mountains under the entire heavens were covered. (Gen. 7:19) A) Irony B) Synecdoche C) Merismus D) Simile E) Apostrophe

9) Although I am less than the least of Gods people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. (Eph. 3:8) A) Synecdoche B) Metonymy C) Personification D) Simile E) Litotes

10) Let them know that it is your hand, that your, O Lord, have done it. (Psalm 109:27) A) Synecdoche B) Personification C) Merismus D) Simile E) Metonym

11) This is what the Lord says:

"A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because her children are no more." (Jer. 31:15) A) Metaphor B) Eponymy C) Synecdoche D) Litotes E) Personification

12) Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler. (Prov. 6:5) A) Simile B) Personification C) Eponymy D) Metonym E) Merismus

13) Why was it, O sea, that you fled, O Jordan, that you turned back, you mountains, that you skipped like rams, the hills like lambs. (Psalm 114:5-6) A) Merismus B) Personification C) Metonymy D) Apostrophe E) Simile

14) Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? (1 Cor. 12:29-30) A) Personification B) Simile C) Euphemism D) Metaphor E) Ellipsis

15) The last enemy to be destroyed in death. (1 Cor. 15:26) A) Merismus B) Personification C) Simile D) Metaphor E) Litotes Answers in Endnotes.(30)
1997 Robert I. Bradshaw

References
(1) Grant R. Osborne, The Hermeneutical Spiral: A Comprehensive Introduction to Biblical Interpretation (Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP, 1991), 103. (2) Osborne, 103-104. (3) F.L. Cross & E.A. Livingstone, The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, 2nd edition, 1974. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1990), 1364 (4) F.F. Bruce, The Hard Sayings of Jesus (Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP, 1983), 181-182: "Others point out that there is a Greek word (kamilos) meaning cable very similar in

appearance to the word (kamelos) meaning camel. In fact the word meaning cable appears in a few late witnesses to the gospel text. In any case, the substitution of cable or rope for camel should probably be recognised as an attempt to soften the rigour of the statement .'To contrast the largest beast of burden known in Palestine with the smallest of artificial apertures is quite the manner of Christs proverbial sayings. In Jewish rabbinical literature anelephant passing through the eye of a needle is a figure of speech for sheer impossibility." Emphasis in original. (5) Gordon D Fee & Douglas Stuart, How to Read The Bible For All Its Worth: A Guide to Understanding the Bible, 2nd edn. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1993), 21. (6) (1) This is clearly not to be taken literally, as Jesus Himself spoke of responsibility to obey the 6th commandment (Mark 7:9-13), and cared for his own mother (John 19:25-27). Jesus was teaching that following and obeying Him was to have number one priority in the life of believer. Nothing was more important than that obedience. See further Bruce, 119-121. 2) Carson, "Matthew," 151: "Cutting off or gouging out the offending part is a way of saying that Jesus disciples must deal radically with sin. Imagination is a God-given gift, but if it is fed dirt by the eye, it will be dirty. All sin, not least sexual sin, begins with the imagination. Therefore what feeds the imagination is of maximum importance in the pursuit of kingdom righteousness (compare Phil. 4:8). Not everyone reacts the same way to all objects. But if (vv. 28-29) your eye is causing you to sin, gouge it out, or at the very least, dont look The alternative is sin and hell, sins reward." 3) In Jewish thought the mustard seed was proverbially the smallest of all seeds. This is not to be taken as an botanical statement, but as a reflection of popular thought. The point of Jesus parable is not the size of the seed in relation to other seeds, but the size of the plant that it produces when it grows. William L. Lane, "The Gospel According to Mark," New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1974), 171; Larry W. Hurtado, "Mark," New International Biblical Commentary (Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson, 1989), 80. (7) Osborne, 106. (8) Osborne, 107. (9) Osborne, 107. (10) Osborne, 107. (11) Osborne, 107. (12) (1) )The Holy Spirit / The sinful nature. 2) )Light / darkness. 3) )Personal position and achievements / relationship with Jesus Christ.

(13) Osborne, 106. (14) Osborne, 108. (15) 1) Authority. 2) Gods protection. 3) adversaries. 4) The Torah or Pentateuch. 5) "Christ bore the penalty of our sins" .This is clearly an metonym because it is impossible for a real person to become an abstract concept, whether it is love, peace or sin. 6) Jewish Christians. 7) The demonic realm. 8) )Jerusalem. (16) van Gemeren, 28. (17) van Gemeren, 26. (18) Osborne, 108. (19) Osborne, 108. (20) Luke 15:23-24. A fatted calf was an animal kept for occasions of special celebration. (21) Num. 32:23 (22) James 5:20; 1 Peter 4:8 (KJV) (23) Luke 15:11-31. (24) Matt 5:15; Mark 4:21; Luke 11:33. A bushel is a tub or bowl that might be used for measuring grain. (25) Genesis 4:15. This verse has an unfortunate history of interpretation., having been used to justify hatred of black people when it has been argued that the mark God put on Cain was a black skin. How descendants of Cain could have survived Noahs flood and be alive today is not explained! We only know of the marks purpose; not its nature. (26) Matt 5:13 (27) Dan 6:1-24. (28) This verse is more often than not used out of its original context and its meaning reversed. Paul uses this quote from Isaiah 22:13 in 1 Corinthians 15:32: "Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die." Paul is intending to show the pointlessness of life if there is no resurrection. Without that hope a Christian might as well enjoy himself as much as possible, because there is nothing to look forward to after death. (29) 2 Thess 3:13 (KJV). (30) Answers to Final Exercise.

1) C - Metonymy. Gates of Hades is most likely to mean "the power of death." See also Job 17:16; 38:17; Psalm 9:13; 107:18; Isa. 38:10. D.A. Carson, "Matthew," F.E. Gbelein, gen. ed., The Expositors Bible Commentary, Vol. 7. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984), 370. 2) E - A), B) & C) above. Hyperbole. Bruce, 131: "...when Jesus said he had come to bring not peace but a sword, he meant that this would be the effect of his coming, not that it was the purpose of his coming. His words came true in the life of the early Church, and they have verified themselves subsequently in the history of Christian missions. Where one or two members of a family or other social group have accepted the Christian faith, this has frequently provoked opposition from other members." It is also an antithesis because it contrasts "peace on earth" with "a sword" ."Sword" stands as a metonymy for "conflict". 3) D - Simile. The scattering of the kings was like snow falling on a mountain. 4) E - Hyperbole. Some have seen in this verse evidence to support the belief that sin is passed down through the family line, or that Davids birth was illegitimate. All of these meanings are read into the Psalm, not out of it. See Fee & Stuart, 190. 5) B - Metaphor. God is not a big chicken, but his protection is pictured here as being like that enjoyed by a nestling. 6) D - Personification. 7) B - Irony. Irony here is in the form of biting sarcasm. 8) C - Merismus. The context here rules out any kind of localised flooding. Noahs flood was a world-wide event. 9) E - Litotes. Paul denigrates himself in order to magnify Gods grace. 10) A - Synecdoche. The Lords hand stands for all of Gods activity. 11) B - Eponymy. 12) A - Simile. 13) D - Apostrophe. 14) E) - Ellipsis.

You do not do, you do not do Any more, black shoe In which I have lived like a foot For thirty years, poor and white, Barely daring to breathe or Achoo. Daddy, I have had to kill you. You died before I had time-- Marble-heavy, a bag full of God, Ghastly statue with one gray toe Big as a Frisco seal And a head in the freakish Atlantic Where it pours bean green over blue In the waters off beautiful Nauset. I used to pray to recover you. Ach, du. In the German tongue, in the Polish town Scraped flat by the roller Of wars, wars, wars. But the name of the town is common. My Polack friend Says there are a dozen or two. So I never could tell where you Put your foot, your root, I never could talk to you. The tongue stuck in my jaw. It stuck in a barb wire snare. Ich, ich, ich, ich, I could hardly speak. I thought every German was you. And the language obscene An engine, an engine Chuffing me off like a Jew. A Jew to Dachau, Auschwitz, Belsen. I began to talk like a Jew. I think I may well be a Jew. The snows of the Tyrol, the clear beer of Vienna Are not very pure or true. With my gipsy ancestress and my weird luck And my Taroc pack and my Taroc pack I may be a bit of a Jew. I have always been scared of you, With your Luftwaffe, your gobbledygoo. And your neat mustache And your Aryan eye, bright blue. Panzer-man, panzerman, O You-- Not God but a swastika So black no sky could squeak through. Every woman adores a Fascist, The boot in the face, the brute Brute heart of a brute like you. You stand at the blackboard, daddy, In the picture I have of you, A cleft in your chin instead of your foot But no less a devil for that, no not Any less the black man who Bit my pretty red heart in two. I was ten when they buried you. At twenty I tried to die And get back, back, back to you. I thought even the bones would do. But they pulled me out of the sack, And they stuck me together with glue. And then I knew what to do. I made a model of you, A man in black with a Meinkampf look And a love of the rack and the screw. And I said I do, I do. So daddy, I'm finally through. The black telephone's off at the root, The voices just can't worm through. If I've killed one man, I've killed two-- The vampire who said he was you And drank my blood for a year, Seven years, if you want to know. Daddy, you can lie back now. There's a stake in your fat black heart And the villagers never liked you. They are dancing and stamping on you. They always knew it was you. Daddy, daddy, you bastard, I'm through.

Daddy (poem)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search "Daddy" is a poem written by the American Poet Sylvia Plath. It was written on October 12 1962, shortly before her death, and published posthumously in Ariel in 1965.[1] The poem's implications and thematic concerns have been discussed academically with differing conclusions.[2] The relative popularity of "Daddy" can be attributed to Plath's vivid use of imagery[1] and controversial use of the Holocaust[2] as a metaphor. Critics have also viewed "Daddy" as a response to Plath's complex relationship with her father, Otto Plath,[3] who died shortly after her eighth birthday as a result of undiagnosed diabetes.[4]

Contents
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1 Structure and form 2 Common interpretations o 2.1 Autobiographical o 2.2 Rejection of religion 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External links

[edit] Structure and form

The poem repeats in 5-line stanzas with meter and rhyme scheme resembling the style and structure of a nursery-rhyme:[5] You do not do, you do not do Any more, black shoe In which I have lived like a foot For thirty years, poor and white, Barely daring to breathe or Achoo. Sylvia Plath, introducing the poem for a BBC radio reading shortly before her suicide, famously described the poem as about "a girl with an Electra complex. Her father died while she thought he was God."[6]. Coupled with morbid imagery, the narrator's childlike intonation evokes a keen state of unease in the reader throughout the poem, climaxing in the final lines "Daddy, daddy, you bastard, I'm through".

[edit] Common interpretations

"Daddy" deals with a girl's deep attachment to the memory of her father and the unhappiness it caused in her life.[citation needed] It can also be seen as an outlet for Plath to deal with her father's death or her husband's betrayal.[citation needed] She does this through reinventing the relationship as one between a Nazi and a Jew, creating an "oppressoroppressed" dynamic.[7] and "The Colossus" also explore the relationship between a girl and a dominant father figure. The writer Theodore Dalrymple has written critically about evoking the holocaust in this context.[8]

[edit] Autobiographical
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challenged and removed. (June 2009)

The poem "Daddy" can be interpreted along with other poems by Plath as semiautobiographical regarding her own relationship with her father or her husband, Ted Hughes. Plath's poems "Full Fathom Five"[9] and "The Colossus" also explore the relationship between a girl and a dominant father figure. The writer Theodore Dalrymple has written critically about evoking the holocaust in this context. > Marble-heavy, a bag full of God, Ghastly statue with one grey toe [...] And a head in the freakish Atlantic In all three of these lines, her father is portrayed differently. In "Full Fathom Five", he is portrayed as the god of the sea; surfacing only on occasion. He is portrayed as ancient, ethereal, mysterious, and powerful. Quite differently, in "The Colossus", he is portrayed as a massive fallen statue, who Plath has spent her life trying to reassemble, and in so doing, resurrect. In "Daddy", Plath continues in the same vein as "The Colossus", portraying her father in the same manner. However, "Daddy" differs from the others in that it shows an attempt to change the situation. Plath states: "Daddy, I have had to kill you." By this, she of course means her unhealthy relationship with the memory of her father. The extent to which her father's memory affected her is obvious; especially from the twelfth stanza on. She states At twenty I tried to die And get back, back, back to you. I thought even the bones would do. Here Plath refers to an attempted suicide by overdose of sleeping pills, stating that it was an attempt to get back to her father, to be with him in death. She continues by stating that: But they pulled me out of the sack, And they stuck me together with glue. And then I knew what to do. I made a model of you, A man in black with a Meinkampf look And a love of the rack and the screw. And I said I do, I do. The 'man in black with a Meinkampf look' is a reference to her husband, Ted Hughes (who dressed head to toe in black), from whom she had recently separated. She portrays their relationship as a manifestation of her Electra complex, that she was attracted to Hughes because he reminded her of her father. In the next stanza, Plath describes the outcome of this relationship.

If I've killed one man, I've killed twoThe vampire who said he was you And drank my blood for a year, The two men she refers to are her father and Hughes. Killed here means that she has moved on, and forgotten about them. Although from the portrayal of both of them as vampires, it is obvious that this was not done easily, that Plath endured seven years of marriage to this 'vampire'. But, as she says in the poem "So Daddy, I'm finally through." In stating this she means that she has overcome the memory of her father, and has moved on. This could also mean that Plath is through with dealing with these painful memories and living with these thoughts going through her mind since she commits suicide a mere 5 months after writing this poem.

[edit] Rejection of religion

Sylvia Plath's rejection of religion is also a potential theme in "Daddy".[10] Plath explicitly compares her father to God and later to a devil, prompting some[who?] to suggest that she was openly attacking her own religious beliefs. (She was raised as a Unitarian.)