Feb 20, 2004 06:57
20 yrs ago
English term
The shower was practically take care of itself
Non-PRO
English
Art/Literary
She is organising the bridal shower party for her sister:
I spent the evening trying to find a Martha recipe for quiche lorraine (there was one, naturally). Then I made a shopping list for the shower in my beautiful notebook. I placed an order for flowers from the chichi-est but most cost-effective florist I could find. (The arrangements would be cream and lavender, of course) The shower was practically take care of itself, so I decided I'd earned an evening off.
I spent the evening trying to find a Martha recipe for quiche lorraine (there was one, naturally). Then I made a shopping list for the shower in my beautiful notebook. I placed an order for flowers from the chichi-est but most cost-effective florist I could find. (The arrangements would be cream and lavender, of course) The shower was practically take care of itself, so I decided I'd earned an evening off.
Responses
Responses
+1
1 hr
Michele Johnson
Germany
Germany
Native in English
&
English
Germany
American engineer, Dip. Trans IOL, BDÜ
Native in: English 
Works in: German to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
32
Selected
*was practically taking* care of itself
OK, "was take care" is definitely incorrect grammar.
IMO it should obviously be "was taking care of itself".
Very typical past continuous formulation. See e.g. http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/pastcontinuous.html
It appeared, for the most part, to be taking care of itself, i.e. everything was running smoothly, falling into place. There is still more work to do though, otherwise she would be able to take more than just a night off. That is why past perfect continuous, i.e. "it had taken care of itself" is incorrect.
IMO it should obviously be "was taking care of itself".
Very typical past continuous formulation. See e.g. http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/pastcontinuous.html
It appeared, for the most part, to be taking care of itself, i.e. everything was running smoothly, falling into place. There is still more work to do though, otherwise she would be able to take more than just a night off. That is why past perfect continuous, i.e. "it had taken care of itself" is incorrect.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
+2
3 mins
It was taken care of
Done deal, no worries about it.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
J. Leo (X)
6 mins
|
| agree |
Michele Johnson
: It was practically taking care of itself.
56 mins
|
+6
7 mins
Does not make much sense
... grammatically or otherwise.
Grammatically, one would say:
"the shower was practically taken care of" (meaning all the arrangements have been made); or
"the shower has practically taken care of itself" (usually said about an affair where the pieces fall together naturally without much intervention).
In this case, she has already described all the arrangements that she has made, so it does not make sense to say that the shower has taken care of itself.
Grammatically, one would say:
"the shower was practically taken care of" (meaning all the arrangements have been made); or
"the shower has practically taken care of itself" (usually said about an affair where the pieces fall together naturally without much intervention).
In this case, she has already described all the arrangements that she has made, so it does not make sense to say that the shower has taken care of itself.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Alaa Zeineldine
: It's a typo, and you're right too.
11 mins
|
| agree |
Jörgen Slet
14 mins
|
| neutral |
Alex Zelkind (X)
: It is not a typo. People actually speak like that
22 mins
|
|
I never said there was a typo. The error may or may not be a typo, but it is an error, whether "people" talke tlike this or not. And, as I explained, there are actually two errors, not one: one grammatical, the other logical.
|
|
| agree |
Jeannie Graham
: Ungrammatical and agree with Fuad's possible interpretations too.
1 hr
|
| agree |
Armorel Young
1 hr
|
| agree |
James Calder
: Yes, I don't see how a shower can take care of itself. Must be a typo.
3 hrs
|
| agree |
senin
9 hrs
|
10 mins
Alaa Zeineldine
Egypt
Egypt
Native in English
&
English
Egypt
The best in IT ... and in Automotive
Native in: Arabic 
, English
Works in: English to Arabic, Arabic to English, English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
198
it *has* taken care of itself
This is probably just a typo. All the shower preparations came nicely together and were completed without her intervention.
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Note added at 18 mins (2004-02-20 07:15:25 GMT)
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Misused idiom:
Now that I saw Fuad\'s comment I think it makes sense (his comment that is). If she has done all the work, then the shower did not take care of itself. She was happy that it was all done and felt compelled to be idiomatic. The result was a little tacky.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 18 mins (2004-02-20 07:15:25 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Misused idiom:
Now that I saw Fuad\'s comment I think it makes sense (his comment that is). If she has done all the work, then the shower did not take care of itself. She was happy that it was all done and felt compelled to be idiomatic. The result was a little tacky.
42 mins
Alexander Onishko
Veni Vidi Vici
Native in: Russian , Ukrainian
Works in: Russian to English, English to Russian, Ukrainian to English, and 5 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
27
I've almost finished my preparation for the shower for today
...
3 hrs
Sonia Gomes
Native in English
&
English
Concentrates on Pharma and Medicine
Native in: English , Portuguese
Works in: Portuguese to English, Spanish to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
8
The shower was taken care of
I had arranged everything for the shower, soap, gel, shampoo towels, the works. So I did not have to worry about it.
Sonia
Sonia
4 hrs
would
Just a comment.
I think the writer meant "would" instead of "was, has, etc....."
Having made all the arrangements and with nothing left to do)....."the shower would practically take care of itself", so I decided I'd earned an evening off.
I think the writer meant "would" instead of "was, has, etc....."
Having made all the arrangements and with nothing left to do)....."the shower would practically take care of itself", so I decided I'd earned an evening off.
Something went wrong...