i found this sentence in Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code" but i think its grammatically wrong
2006-09-23 20:33:10 · 24 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
that is the correct usage .......I tried to call you would be a vauge statement , and he cant say I tried phoning you because that is wrong and i dont think phoning is even a word .......it sounds good to me .........
2006-09-23 20:36:19 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It may not be grammatical but it sure sounds a lot more natural than "I tried to call you on the telephone.".....dialogue in literature is meant to capture how people really talk instead of being "perfect."
Besides, although phone may have started out as a noun, enough people use it as a verb that is has become acceptable as such. It's like "googling" something. Originally the name of the search engine, it has since become a verb as well and hardly anyone notices anymore. Language is dynamic.
2006-09-23 20:37:33 · answer #2 · answered by spindoccc 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In this sentence, phone is used as a verb. Therefore it is gramatically correct. But, it does not look as sound as "I tried to make you a call"
2006-09-23 20:46:41 · answer #3 · answered by Gorkhali Kanchha 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As far as I know, the word "thar" isn't an English word in the first place. =/ You would say in SLANG (still not proper English) "Them horses are mine". A better way that is NOT slang English would be "Those horses are mine" or "Those horses over there are mine".
2016-03-18 00:33:41 · answer #4 · answered by Pamela 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes its a correct english b'coz here word phone is being used as a verb
my friend lady rebec has rightly said
2006-09-23 20:59:53 · answer #5 · answered by sania i 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no the correct way is "i tried to call you on phone" got it?
2006-09-23 20:42:51 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would tend to agree with you, but this is what the dictionary says: Main Entry: 3phone
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): phoned; phon·ing
Besides it it is in quotes in the book, letting us know that it is a direct quote from someone, the grammar would not matter.
Like you, I would tend to say, "I tried to call you," but to each his own.
2006-09-23 20:39:45 · answer #7 · answered by Patti C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The word PHONE can be used as a noun and as a verb also. Here it is used as a VERB and so is absolutely correct!
2006-09-23 20:43:42 · answer #8 · answered by anil m 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's the beauty of The English Language. It's very flexible and accepts words that are new and also accepts new usages for existing words. 'Phone' originally a noun, has now been accepted as a verb too. So, when you say, 'I tried to phone you', it is right. The 'phone' here refers to the act of dialing and speaking over the phone. 'My phone is dead', is right too. Here the 'phone' refers to the telephone instrument.
2006-09-23 20:46:15 · answer #9 · answered by SHANTHI 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, that is correct, phone is being used as a verb
2006-09-23 20:34:49 · answer #10 · answered by LadyRebecca 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋