pulled the door to against the increasing rain.
pulled the door to against the increasing rain.
Something is unsaid here, as it unnecessary... well, in the
writer's view. What are the possible conditions for a door to
remain at rest: open or closed. From the inside, we push a door
open; or, pull a door closed.
It's wet outside. He pulls the door to keep the rain outside. The
door is closed. Everyone would know this. Pull door, door closes.
Silly isn't it. :)
I see, but in Russia, in such cases, we often ask the interlocutor, "Now say it again in a human way." ;)
By the way, how should I pronounce the name "Gatsby"? Should the last sound be [ai] or [ee]? No questions if he were Gatsbe. Is there any rule?
Aware of the loud beating of my own heart I pulled
the door to against the increasing rain.
It "against" a verb? ;-)
Aware of the loud beating of my own heart I pulled the door to
against the increasing rain.
It "against" a verb? ;-)
No, it's a preposition. I think the difficulty here is that "to"
may be used either as a preposition or, less commonly, as an
adverb. :-)
I pulled the door to = I shut the door
against the rain = to prevent the rain from coming in
-----Beginning of the citation-----[snip]
With his hands still in his coat pockets he stalked by me into the hall, turned sharply as if he were on a wire, and disappeared into the living- room. It wasn't a bit funny. Aware of the loud beating of my own heart I pulled the door to against the increasing rain.
----- The end of the citation -----
It "against" a verb? ;-)
Is "against" a verb?
What a strange sentence Fitzgerald is using! At first, I thought
this was a printing error. But lo and behold, it is exactly the
same in physical print. The sentence would sound better to me
without the "to" in front of "against" and still render the meaning
well enough.
But apparently, Fitz is using an archaic form of "against" as a conjunction. The use of the word hear is to mean "in preparation of
time or a delay" or "to oppose" something.
I've read the book many years ago, and don't recall too many issues
like the above. I probably just assumed they were printing errors
and moved on.
https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/pull+to-----Beginning of the citation-----
So in normal language the sentence will look like this:
"... I closed the door because the rain was increasing."
With his hands still in his coat pockets he stalked by me into the hall, turned sharply as if he were on a wire, and disappeared into the living- room. It wasn't a bit funny. Aware of the loud beating of my own heart I pulled the door to against the increasing rain.
----- The end of the citation -----
What a strange sentence Fitzgerald is using! At first, I thought this was a printing error. But lo and behold, it is exactly the same in physical print. The sentence would sound better to me without the "to" in front of "against" and still render the meaning well enough.
Excellent! So, why couldn't Fitz just write that, eh? <G> The
story is set in the 20's, so the English that people spoke wasn't
*that* archaic.
BTW, "to pull the door" would indicate to me that it was an outward swinging door that he was trying to close from the inside and the
"against" may be attempting to imply a heavy rain beating at the
door at the moment.
If I recall correctly, the narrator is staying in a cottage next
door to Gatsby's mansion. The cottage may have only had a flimsy
door that the rain could beat against very easily.
For a read consistent with the season, try Dicken's A Christmas
Carol. There are few archaic language samples in that one!
For a read consistent with the season, try Dicken's A Christmas
Carol. There are few archaic language samples in that one!
BTW.. I am liking your Reformator program very much! I think I got
the right routine of copy-paste-quote-copy-paste that works for me.
I like the way it skips quoting the citing section.
BTW.. I am liking your Reformator program very much!...
I also want to clarify some formatting options...
"The Great Gatsby" was presented me as a paper book. I like
English paper books very much because I can do my notes on
pages. When I complete reading I peruse all the notes and
refresh in memory those words that were new or unclear when I
read the book. It is a more effective way to learn words.
BTW, "to pull the door" would indicate to me that it was an
outward swinging door that he was trying to close..
To make matters worse, in this country and in the US, most
front doors swing inward so as not to hit the person
standing outside!
As an aside, I think the movie versions of that scene depict a
screen door. Most of those kind do swing to the outside.
One time, I needed to replace an interior door to swing in a
particular direction. All I had at the time was a door with hinges
on the wrong side. I flipped the door vertically, and voila! ..I
had a door that would operate as required. The hole for the door
knob was a bit higher as a result, but I didn't need that part. <g>
It was a door for a utility room, so it didn't have to look pretty
and perfect.
What are the possible conditions for a door to remain
at rest: open or closed.
From the inside, we push a door open; or, pull a door
closed.
Pull door, door closes. Silly isn't it. :)
When we "pull a door to", we bring it closer to the door frame.
I guess "pull to" makes more sense from the door's POV than it did
from mine at first.
"The Great Gatsby" was presented me as a paper book. I like
English paper books very much because I can do my notes on pages.
When I complete reading I peruse all the notes and refresh in
memory those words that were new or unclear when I read the book.
It is a more effective way to learn words.
There is not a whole lot of room to write in the margins in most
books. Your writing style must be very small and neat!
But I have done something similar when certain words and phrases
impressed me. I kept a separat journal with notes for each
particular book. Then, I'd revisit my notes and try to use those
words and phrases in regular conversation to either impress or
freak people out.
The first book I started doing that with was "Dracula - Bram
Stoker", many many years ago! I thought the language in there was
amazing, and fun to trip-up other people with.
One time, I needed to replace an interior door to swing in a
particular direction. All I had at the time was a door with hinges
on the wrong side. I flipped the door vertically, and voila!..I had
a door that would operate as required. The hole for the door knob
was a bit higher as a result, but I didn't need that part. <g> It
was a door for a utility room, so it didn't have to look pretty and perfect.
For me English is a connection with the rest of the world,
as is my satellite dish. But of course there are many
masterstroke books. The most comfortable book in my library
is Ivanhoe, by Walter Scott. I really have a rest when I
read it. It full of great humor, actions, emotions.
that I did *not* know right away was here: "The curse of St Withold
upon these infernal porkers!" said the swine-herd, after blowing his
horn obstreperously,.." I mean, "obstreperous" is not a word that
anyone is likely to whip out in conversation. <g> But maybe I
will *now* ! LOL
IMHO, you should have done over the hinges on the door, too.
Your door at first had been hinged from up to down, then, it
could be hinged only from down to up. You can't just revolt the
door and hinge it?
Hi August -- on Dec 31 2019 at 02:07, you wrote:
...."The curse of St
Withold upon these infernal porkers!" said the swine-herd,
after blowing his horn obstreperously,.." I
mean, "obstreperous" is not a word that anyone is likely to
whip out in conversation. <g> But maybe I will *now*! LOL
I must confess that in my teaching days I would use the word to
calm excited students: "Now class, don't be obstreperous!". It
puzzled them enough that they settled down (at least for a
bit!).
I'd upgrade the phrase and call kids like that "you little infernal obstreperous porkers" <G>
For me English is a connection with the rest of the world, as is
my satellite dish. But of course there are many masterstroke
books. The most comfortable book in my library is Ivanhoe, by
Walter Scott. I really have a rest when I read it. It full of
great humor, actions, emotions.
I'm impressed with your likes. Ivanhoe is quite the epic and filled
with very "formal" yet an ancient way of speaking and writing.
L-o-n-g sentences!
I delved into to it to get a refresher.. and one of the first words
that I did *not* know right away was here: "The curse of St Withold
upon these infernal porkers!" said the swine-herd, after blowing
his horn obstreperously,.." I mean, "obstreperous" is not a word
that anyone is likely to whip out in conversation. <g> But maybe I
will *now*! LOL
I'm impressed with your likes. Ivanhoe is quite the epic and
filled with very "formal" yet an ancient way of speaking and
writing.
Well, my first meeting with th original ended similarly. But
after years I returned to this book. There is energy and life
there.
Such sentences got me down when I tried to read the second book
about Robinson Crusoe adventures. And the style was very
tedious, too.
As for Ivanhoe, I've got a nice Russian translation. I can't
tell you the name of that witty translator -- the book was read
so many times by me and till me, so it had lost the cover and
first pages. I'd suggest to you to start with Russian
translations.
I'd upgrade the phrase and call kids like that "you little
infernal obstreperous porkers" <G>
I might well have thought that, but that phrase crosses the
boundary into insulting/rude, which wouldn't be appropriate in
the context.
I'm impressed with your likes. Ivanhoe is quite the epic and
filled with very "formal" yet an ancient way of speaking and
writing.
Well, my first meeting with th original ended similarly. But after
years I returned to this book. There is energy and life there.
Hello Alexander!
I find many of the classics between 1850 to 1950 are worth
discovery or rediscovery.
Wuthering Heights (Bronte) has great characters, witty
conversations, and fun turns of phrase.
Such sentences got me down when I tried to read the second book
about Robinson Crusoe adventures. And the style was very tedious,
too.
Second book = The Farther Adventures of RC? Apparently, the stories
of RC have been suggested to be based on real events.
I have to admit, that I don't think I ever finished reading the
*first* story of RC. I am willing to give old books another chance.
As for Ivanhoe, I've got a nice Russian translation. I can't tell
you the name of that witty translator -- the book was read so many
times by me and till me, so it had lost the cover and first pages.
I'd suggest to you to start with Russian translations.
There is absolutely no chance that I will be able to read Russian.
Speaking of Russian and translations, I recently learned about the
sci-fi books by the Strugatsky brothers. I have Doomed City on my
list.
About the book: "The Doomed City was so politically risky that the Strugatsky brothers kept its existence a complete secret even from
their closest friends for sixteen years after its completion in
1972. It was only published in Russia during perestroika in the
late 1980s, the last of their works to see publication. It was
translated into a host of European languages, and now appears in
English in a major new effort by acclaimed translator Andrew
Bromfield."
I have enjoyed the english translations of some books by Dostoevsky
and Tolstoy. They are great epics of life and consequences.
But I hear stories from teachers that kids who launch accusations of
abuse from teachers who in so much as touch them on the shoulder.
"The Great Gatsby" was presented me as a paper book. I like
English paper books very much because I can do my notes on
pages. When I complete reading I peruse all the notes and
refresh in memory those words that were new or unclear when
I read the book. It is a more effective way to learn words.
There is not a whole lot of room to write in the margins in
most books. Your writing style must be very small and neat!
But I have done something similar when certain words and
phrases impressed me. I kept a separate journal with notes
for each particular book. Then, I'd revisit my notes and
try to use those words and phrases in regular conversation
to either impress or freak people out.
The first book I started doing that with was "Dracula - Bram
Stoker", many many years ago! I thought the language in there
was amazing, and fun to trip-up other people with.
I guess "pull to" makes more sense from the door's POV
than it did from mine at first.
then you have folks like myself... i use either "push
to" or "pull to" depending on which side of the door
the victim will be on when they exit ;)
"hey, push the door to as you leave" - door opens out
"pull the door to on your way out" - door opens in
in either case, the goal of closing the door but not all
the way is accomplished...
I think the difficulty here is that "to" may be used
either as a preposition or, less commonly, as an adverb.
I pulled the door to = I shut the door
against the rain = to prevent the rain from coming in
Well, if "to" was a preposition
give me an example when it is a adverb.|an
She turned her head as there was a light dignified
knocking at the front door. I went out and opened it.
Gatsby, pale as death, with his hands plunged like
weights in his coat pockets, was standing in a puddle
of water glaring tragically into my eyes.
With his hands still in his coat pockets he stalked by
me into the hall, turned sharply as if he were on a
wire, and disappeared into the living-room. It wasn't
a bit funny. Aware of the loud beating of my own heart
I pulled the door to against the increasing rain.
It "against" a verb? ;-)
I have to admit, that I don't think I ever finished
reading the *first* story of RC.
Wuthering Heights (Bronte) has great characters, witty
conversations, and fun turns of phrase.
I have enjoyed the english translations of some books by
Dostoevsky and Tolstoy. They are great epics of life and
consequences.
I am not a big fan of it, although recently I've had an
idea to reread his "Roadsize Picnic", which is in my
list now.
Oh yes, it's absolutely forbidden to touch a
student -- which is a real problem for band teachers who
sometimes need to guide fingers to the right positions.
a bit funny. Aware of the loud beating of my own heart I pulled
the door to against the increasing rain.
Is "against" a verb?
No, but "to" is not a sign of the infinitive either. It is a
preposition depending on "pull" and acting upon an implied noun
(jamb): pull the door snugly to the jamb to shut off bad weather.
I'm impressed with your likes. Ivanhoe is quite the epic
and filled with very "formal" yet an ancient way of
speaking and writing.
L-o-n-g sentences!
I hope I'll read this book to the end. ;)
Oh yes, it's absolutely forbidden to touch a student -- which is a
real problem for band teachers who sometimes need to guide fingers
to the right positions.
That is a tyranny of political correctness. When I was in ninth
grade, my Russian-language teacher once zipped the zipper on my
trousers without any hidden motive. The PC police would be enraged
Well, if "to" was a preposition give me an example when
it is a adverb.
So in normal language the sentence will look like this:
"... I closed the door because the rain was increasing."
So in normal language the sentence will look like this:
"... I closed the door because the rain was increasing."
It has a different meaning for two reasons: "close" can mean more
than just pulling to, and there is no indication of increasing rain
in the original.
euphonic, and brief.
"Aware of the loud beating of my own heart I pulled
the door to against the increasing rain."
So in normal language the sentence will look like
this:
"... I closed the door because the rain was
increasing."
It has a different meaning for two reasons: "close" can
mean more than just pulling to, and there is no
indication of increasing rain in the original. In
that sentence, Gatsby's language *is* normal, euphonic,
and brief.
There is no indication of increasing rain?
Why have you removed the citation?
IMHO "shut" speaks clearly about the result of the
action.
But more amenable to parsing than, say, in M.R.
James's "Jolly corner":
This entire paragraph feels to me like a bumpy road
whereover one (I) can hardly walk wighout he trips all the
time and falls often, hurting one's knees. I know this
sentence is dubious, but plead to Edrawd Albee, who wrote
(IIRC):
A man can put up with only so much without he descends a
rung or two down the old evolutionary ladder.
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