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Is this magic??

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June 30, 2003, 08:14
Tadpole
Is this magic??
In today's Guardian, on page 9 of the broadsheet bit, there is a small article about the capercaillie. Apparently....
'Capercaillie numbers have fallen below 1,000 and there are fears of it becoming extinct again.'

Eek

Tadpole
June 30, 2003, 08:17
Ros
Well, that's a neat trick!
June 30, 2003, 08:22
Kalleh
I had never heard of them. They are wood grouses, evidently native to northern Europe? Why is that so strange?
June 30, 2003, 08:28
Ros
Not that - the "extinct again"!
June 30, 2003, 08:39
Kalleh
Ohhhhhhhh! Red Face
June 30, 2003, 09:39
Richard English
Misplaced modifiers are always good for a laugh!

Richard English
June 30, 2003, 20:52
<Asa Lovejoy>
Misplaced modifiers are always good for a laugh
-----------------------------------------------

I didn't see it right off either, Kalleh. Confused It therefore became a misplaced mortifier!
June 30, 2003, 22:04
jerry thomas
... here's information about the Capercaillie

~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~

What mildly disturbs me in the Guardian article is "... and there are fears of it becoming extinct again.'

I believe it should say, " ... there are again fears of its becoming extinct."

.... because a noun or pronoun modifying a gerund is possessive. No?
June 30, 2003, 23:23
Tadpole
We can't have 'it' becoming extinct. It is far too useful a word.

Tadpole
June 30, 2003, 23:31
Tadpole
I have just been reminded about an article that appeared in a gardening column in which the author was suggesting that we should let our gardens grow wild. They should be
'allowed to revert to virgin woodlands'

Roll Eyes

Tadpole
July 01, 2003, 05:10
pauld
Or Oscar Levant on Doris Day?

"I knew her before she was a virgin."
July 02, 2003, 23:09
tinman
quote:
Originally posted by Ros:
Not that - the "extinct again"!

This is not as bad as it looks. In his post on June 30, Jerry gives a link to Capercaillie. It says the capercaillie was exterminated in Scotland in 1785 and reintroduced in the 19th century. So the animal was locally extinct in Scotland. In botany they often use the term extirpated for this.

Tinman
July 05, 2003, 17:27
shufitz
"revert to virgin woodlands"

It is not unknown for a female to attempt to distance herself from a former lower life-style by feigning what may be called retroactive virginity.
July 05, 2003, 17:59
Kalleh
quote:
they often use the term extirpated for this.
Interesting, Tinman. I never would have guessed that from the definitions in onelook.
July 07, 2003, 16:12
C J Strolin
Not-so-famous quotation that may or may not be relevant here:

"The same women who fervently claimed to be virgins in high school now just as earnestly profess to be sexualiy insatiable. They weren't then and they aren't now."


I doubt that this is word-for-word perfect and I haven't a clue as to its originator.