to do/make/give an example
- Thread starter Einstein
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Not to contradict you Einstein...but I checked with a couple of natives before posting. As far as I got told to give an example is definitely more common (and I'm right there with you so far) but to do/try/think of an (another) example are also possible (in the sense of fare un esempio of course, as the other two have completely different meanings)
Now, not being a native my opinion doesn't count as much as yours, but perhaps it's just a matter of taste in this case, as they explained it wouldn't sound incorrect.
What do you make of that?
Joe
Now, not being a native my opinion doesn't count as much as yours, but perhaps it's just a matter of taste in this case, as they explained it wouldn't sound incorrect.
What do you make of that?
Joe
Do an example is perfectly fine in AE, especially in the context of working on/analyzing an example (problem), often in a group.
For example, in a classroom the teacher might say, "Let's do one more example." It might be a problem that the teacher and students do together, or it might simply be the teacher going through one more example by himself for the class.
So Joe's do another example in the other thread was perfectly idiomatic to me:
For example, in a classroom the teacher might say, "Let's do one more example." It might be a problem that the teacher and students do together, or it might simply be the teacher going through one more example by himself for the class.
So Joe's do another example in the other thread was perfectly idiomatic to me:
"Do an example" sounds very AE to me.
So I seem to understand you side with me in this case Brian, don't you?
What about to try some more examples? and to think of another example?
What about to try some more examples? and to think of another example?
Yes, there are other possibilities, as you say (I'm not sure about "do an example", though), but my point was to explain the real meaning of "make an example". I didn't want to limit the possibilities to the three verbs that I mentioned.Not to contradict you Einstein...but I checked with a couple of natives before posting. As far as I got told to give an example is definitely more common (and I'm right there with you so far) but to do/try/think of an (another) example are also possible (in the sense of fare un esempio of course, as the other two have completely different meanings)
Now, not being a native my opinion doesn't count as much as yours, but perhaps it's just a matter of taste in this case, as they explained it wouldn't sound incorrect.
What do you make of that?
Joe
PS I agree with Brian about "do an example" when "example" means "problem" (in maths, for example
).
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PS I agree with Brian about "do an example" when "example" means "problem" (in maths, for example
Hmm.. maybe this is the only reason it sounds okay to me--I got my degree in mathematics, so I'm used to it.
We'll see what other AE speakers say.
I'm with Albert on this one
'Do an example' is fine in a lot of ways, but I think subconsciously I will always find another verb to use to avoid using it, though it sounds fine in joe's context, but it's not really my taste? (BE Einstein, we seem to agree here)
In any case, we need to establish that 'make an example' is quite strange and not preferable to the other ways we can explain it.
With 'example' I'd use do/try/go through/give/think of/look at ...
When explaining a concept, and introducing a new example (like we all do lots on here when explaining concepts) I would nearly always use give... (Right, now I'll give you another example ['let's look at / let's go through' fine as well]) though this 'give' doesn't always work, like when you 'go through' or 'look at (analyse)' I guess they can be used always with 'example' and maybe these are probably the best things to teach...
If we look at a few more examples
If we do a few more examples
If we have a look at a few more examples
Can we look at a few more examples Miss?
I want Martin to come and go through some examples with me
I think we should look at some more examples
Yeah, I think those options work well
'Do an example' is fine in a lot of ways, but I think subconsciously I will always find another verb to use to avoid using it, though it sounds fine in joe's context, but it's not really my taste? (BE Einstein, we seem to agree here)
Exactly! This is what I would probably use without thinking, another way to express it,
In any case, we need to establish that 'make an example' is quite strange and not preferable to the other ways we can explain it.
With 'example' I'd use do/try/go through/give/think of/look at ...
When explaining a concept, and introducing a new example (like we all do lots on here when explaining concepts) I would nearly always use give... (Right, now I'll give you another example ['let's look at / let's go through' fine as well]) though this 'give' doesn't always work, like when you 'go through' or 'look at (analyse)' I guess they can be used always with 'example' and maybe these are probably the best things to teach...
If we look at a few more examples
If we do a few more examples
If we have a look at a few more examples
Can we look at a few more examples Miss?
I want Martin to come and go through some examples with me
I think we should look at some more examples
Yeah, I think those options work well
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AE speakers often use 'do' where BE speakers use 'make' (e.g. I am doing a mistake..').
My suggestion: make an example.
My suggestion: make an example.
Hi bearded man - I'm an AE speaker and I've never said nor heard "I am doing a mistake" so I don't know what your statement is based on.
In answer to qay's question - cite an example and quote an example, could both be OK, depending on context. Do you have a sentence to translate?
In answer to qay's question - cite an example and quote an example, could both be OK, depending on context. Do you have a sentence to translate?
Hi joanvilla
In a New York restaurant some years ago , an American waiter said to me: 'Sorry, your check is not correct: I did a mistake'. From his accent, I guessed he was a Manhattaner.... But what is your opinion about 'making' an example ?
He may have been a Manhattanite but probably of a different language background than English. Wouldn't be at all unusual.
Making an example - depends on the sentence. As pointed out in post #1 it has a very specific meaning in the phrase "to make an example of someone" - otherwise it is not correct as a synonym of "give an example."
but probably of a different language background than English. Wouldn't be at all unusual. Making an example - depends on the sentence. As pointed out in post #1 it has a very specific meaning in the phrase "to make an example of someone" - otherwise it is not correct as a synonym of "give an example."