a glass of hot water

Ihaman · 10-14-2002, 12:51 AM

or a hot glass of water?

which is correct grammar, and why?

strange_one · 10-14-2002, 12:53 AM

a hot glass of water sounds better to me, don't know why

meow · 10-14-2002, 12:56 AM

a glass of hot water makes me think that there is hot water in a glass

a hot glass of water makes me think that the glass is hot, regardless of the temperature of the water

then again, when you cant sleep people tell you to have a warm glass of milk...

GOOD QUESTION.

Elvis The Fat Years · 10-14-2002, 01:00 AM

nothing matters when your wasted. remember that.

Mathboy · 10-14-2002, 01:07 AM

Both are correct grammar. As meow observed, they can have slightly different shades of meaning depending on how the words are located in relation to each other. If you want to pin it down exactly, Meow is exactly right. . . a bucket of green paint means that the paint is green, while a green bucket of paint could refer solely to the bucket. So, technically speaking, a glass of hot water is probably "more correct" but it usually doesn't pay to be that picky; not even an English major is gonna say anything about that.

meow · 10-14-2002, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mathboy
Meow is exactly right. . .

phew, thats a first!

<3

bonsor · 10-14-2002, 01:18 AM

Ok, try this. I thought of this in the shower today.

Let say my dad loans me his pen. I chew the cap and it gets all nasty. I give it back to him, and he is naturally upset that I chewed up the cap on his pen.

He says 'That's it John! I'm never letting you borrow my pen again!'

Now, surely he won't let me borrow that specific pen again, but does his statement go for all other pens that will come into his ownership in the future, or does his statement only talk about the one pen that is currently his and only that one?

meow · 10-14-2002, 01:24 AM

It seems like your Dad is frustrated because you chewed his one and only pen. His statement implies that he only owns one pen in the whole wide world.

I'm sure if he had a 10 cent bic pen that he would loan it to you.

bonsor · 10-14-2002, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by meow
It seems like your Dad is frustrated because you chewed his one and only pen. His statement implies that he only owns one pen in the whole wide world.

I'm sure if he had a 10 cent bic pen that he would loan it to you.

the situation is hypothetical.

it was a replacable and disposible pen, and he was really upset about it.

Junebug · 10-14-2002, 01:26 AM

I think the sentence only refers to the pen you chewed on, since he (theoretically) said 'pen' singular and not 'pens' plural. So if he said "I'm never letting you use my pens again" he'd be talking about all the pens he owns. Sounds right to me.

...and I always thought I heard " a glass of warm milk". Who knows. Has anyone ever even had a glass of warm milk? I mean, that sounds kind of gross to me.

meow · 10-14-2002, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ******
the situation is hypothetical.

it was a replacable and disposible pen, and he was really upset about it.

this baffles me. why were you thinking of hypothetical situations regarding grammar in the shower? i still think it sounds like your dad only owns one pen.

Squashing Pineapples · 10-14-2002, 01:32 AM

glass of hot water = a glass with hot water inside
hot glass of water = a hot glass with water inside

________________________
- Your ingrish mad professor

Lie · 10-14-2002, 01:35 AM

What the hell do you need a hot glass of water for, anyway?

Ihaman · 10-14-2002, 01:42 AM

Squashing Pineapples · 10-14-2002, 01:48 AM

so you are doing a flyer for a tea party ?

DeviousJ · 10-14-2002, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by meow

this baffles me. why were you thinking of hypothetical situations regarding grammar in the shower? i still think it sounds like your dad only owns one pen.

Yeah, when he says 'my pen' it sounds like at any one time, he only has a single pen. If he'd said 'a pen' that would imply he had more than one to offer.

10-14-2002, 12:51 AM	#1
Ihaman Sometimes, though. Location: Hazard, California Posts: 21,274	a glass of hot water or a hot glass of water? which is correct grammar, and why?

10-14-2002, 01:32 AM	#12
Squashing Pineapples Banned Location: I'm outta here! Posts: 2,774	Re: a glass of hot water glass of hot water = a glass with hot water inside hot glass of water = a hot glass with water inside ________________________ - Your ingrish mad professor

10-14-2002, 12:53 AM	#2
strange_one No Chance Location: Here Posts: 13,788	a hot glass of water sounds better to me, don't know why

10-14-2002, 12:56 AM	#3
meow Netflix Me Location: Human Skull! Posts: 27,712	a glass of hot water makes me think that there is hot water in a glass a hot glass of water makes me think that the glass is hot, regardless of the temperature of the water then again, when you cant sleep people tell you to have a warm glass of milk... GOOD QUESTION.

10-14-2002, 01:00 AM	#4
Elvis The Fat Years 007 373 5963 Posts: 31,408	nothing matters when your wasted. remember that.

10-14-2002, 01:07 AM	#5
Mathboy Pledge Location: Kalamazoo, MI Posts: 245	Both are correct grammar. As meow observed, they can have slightly different shades of meaning depending on how the words are located in relation to each other. If you want to pin it down exactly, Meow is exactly right. . . a bucket of green paint means that the paint is green, while a green bucket of paint could refer solely to the bucket. So, technically speaking, a glass of hot water is probably "more correct" but it usually doesn't pay to be that picky; not even an English major is gonna say anything about that.

10-14-2002, 01:18 AM	#7
bonsor Minion of Satan Location: midwest Posts: 8,771	Ok, try this. I thought of this in the shower today. Let say my dad loans me his pen. I chew the cap and it gets all nasty. I give it back to him, and he is naturally upset that I chewed up the cap on his pen. He says 'That's it John! I'm never letting you borrow my pen again!' Now, surely he won't let me borrow that specific pen again, but does his statement go for all other pens that will come into his ownership in the future, or does his statement only talk about the one pen that is currently his and only that one?

10-14-2002, 01:24 AM	#8
meow Netflix Me Location: Human Skull! Posts: 27,712	It seems like your Dad is frustrated because you chewed his one and only pen. His statement implies that he only owns one pen in the whole wide world. I'm sure if he had a 10 cent bic pen that he would loan it to you.

10-14-2002, 01:26 AM	#10
Junebug Minion of Satan Posts: 7,072	I think the sentence only refers to the pen you chewed on, since he (theoretically) said 'pen' singular and not 'pens' plural. So if he said "I'm never letting you use my pens again" he'd be talking about all the pens he owns. Sounds right to me. ...and I always thought I heard " a glass of warm milk". Who knows. Has anyone ever even had a glass of warm milk? I mean, that sounds kind of gross to me.

10-14-2002, 01:35 AM	#13
Lie Socialphobic Location: Goin' out West where they'll appreciate me Posts: 10,001	What the hell do you need a hot glass of water for, anyway?

10-14-2002, 01:42 AM	#14
Ihaman Sometimes, though. Location: Hazard, California Posts: 21,274	tea

10-14-2002, 01:48 AM	#15
Squashing Pineapples Banned Location: I'm outta here! Posts: 2,774	so you are doing a flyer for a tea party ?