Need help with grammar

[zaelyel]

I am not sure this thread fits in here but here goes:

I am having an argument with a friend about whether the question, 'How was his mop?' or the sentence, 'He did a good mop' are grammatically correct.
According to my friend the word 'mop' should be 'mopping' instead as it's 'proper' english.

My arguments are,
a) If you replace the word 'mop' by another verb such as 'walk' or 'run', it works perfectly.
b) The sentences do not refer to the actual mopping but to the state of the floor.

I would be very thankful if anyone can enlighten me as to who is right, with explanations if possible.

Z

 

[Ursa major]

Walk and run are substantives, whose meanings can be the product of the appropriate verb in day-to-day English. That does not - as far as I know - apply to "mop" and "to mop". (Even then, when we ask someone if they enjoyed their walk, were are asking about the experience, not the outcome.)

If I was forced to work out what you meant by the phrase, "How was his mop", I'd have to decide between the state of the physical thing called a mop or, if pushed, how his mopping had gone as an experience; i.e. did he enjoy doing the mopping? I don't think I'd consider whether the state of the floor came into it. "Is the floor clean yet?" might be a more useful question.

 

[Culhwch]

I agree with Ursa. Actually, to tell you the truth, I thought at first you might have been talking about a hairstyle.

 

[zaelyel]

'State of the floor' is probably the wrong way to put it. What I meant was that is not the 'mopping' that I am refering to as I get the idea that 'moping' would be more about the experience like you said.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I think that mopping is something to be gotten over as swiftly as possible, without taking the time to experience it.

No, I agree with your friend. To use "mop" as you wish to do is not in line with either common usage or the dictionary. There is no noun "mop" as in the process or experience of mopping.

(Thread moved to Aspiring Writers.)

 

[Nik]

deleted as posts crossed

 

[Commonmind]

I think it would be forgivable if it were being asked/stated through dialog, and there was plenty of context working as a preface. However, although it would be forgivable in my eyes, the character asking the question (or making the declarative statement) would need to speak with the same consistent lack of grammatical correctness -- otherwise I would not buy it.

 

[The Judge]

Now I've seen everything. People arguing about mopping - not the doing of it, but the semantics!

My two pennyworth - the both of you are speaking grammatically incorrect English, but your friend is slightly less at fault than you are. 'Did he mop the floor properly?' and 'He mopped the floor in a satisfactory manner.' (Or more likely 'He was flaming useless at mopping the floor.')

J

 

[KESpires]

I am not sure this thread fits in here but here goes:

I am having an argument with a friend about whether the question, 'How was his mop?' or the sentence, 'He did a good mop' are grammatically correct.
According to my friend the word 'mop' should be 'mopping' instead as it's 'proper' english.

My arguments are,
a) If you replace the word 'mop' by another verb such as 'walk' or 'run', it works perfectly.
b) The sentences do not refer to the actual mopping but to the state of the floor.

I would be very thankful if anyone can enlighten me as to who is right, with explanations if possible.

Z

Whether or not it technically violates grammar is irrelevant. It is an unclear question and an unclear statement. As Ursa said, it leaves the reader wondering what you/the character meant. Unless you establish it in narration after it, it'll jar your reader.

But if you wish for it to be slang, which is technically the way we use the phrase Ursa mentioned, "How did you enjoy your walk?" instead of, "Was your walk pleasant?" then it is correct, so long as you let your reader in on it.

 

[zaelyel]

Thanks for replying. This is a real argument I had with my friend while we were mopping at work... So I guess I just lost...

 

[chrispenycate]

What's everyone got against mopping? I won't try and claim it as a transcendental experience, but it's less of an auditory offence than a vacuum cleaner (who says sound can't travel in a vacuum?)

The trouble with using the noun "mop" is that it is a perfectly good noun, without being the back formation of the verb. If you had a new broom and claim you obtained a clean sweep, nobody would expect you to turn up with a well-scrubbed chimney emptyer. Even if you went for a nice run, they wouldn't expect you to keep chickens in it. But if you ask someone if he enjoyed his mop you'd probably get an obscene reply.

Mind you, it does sound like some dialogue from my grandmother "Now, then, you turn off the main and I'll have a good mop round."

 

[The Judge]

What's everyone got against mopping? I won't try and claim it as a transcendental experience, but it's less of an auditory offence than a vacuum cleaner (who says sound can't travel in a vacuum?)

I love the sound of vacuuming! But it's a Pavlov's-dogs reaction. When I was small, my mum would turn the vacuum on to put me to sleep** so now, when I hear a vacuum starting up I get pleasantly drowsy. Of course, it means that I can't do the housework, because I might fall asleep and cause an accident... honest, it's true...

J

** erm, just realised that could be better expressed - I meant 'to encourage me to sleep', not euthanise me.