How to understand “I had two try”
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"You're not the first one who's had trouble with money," said Mr. Roberts, scrutinizing Mr. Weasley closely. "I had two try and pay me with great gold coins the size of hubcaps ten minutes ago."
I think "I had two try" here means Mr. Roberts had encounter this kind of situation two times. (Is my understanding correct?) I don't quite understand why the singular form of 'try' is being used, instead of the plural form "tries", given the word 'try' is actually an accountable noun. Is it a dialectal usage?
meaning-in-context singular-vs-plural
asked 2 hours ago
dan
3,71622259
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up vote
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"You're not the first one who's had trouble with money," said Mr. Roberts, scrutinizing Mr. Weasley closely. "I had two try and pay me with great gold coins the size of hubcaps ten minutes ago."
I think "I had two try" here means Mr. Roberts had encounter this kind of situation two times. (Is my understanding correct?) I don't quite understand why the singular form of 'try' is being used, instead of the plural form "tries", given the word 'try' is actually an accountable noun. Is it a dialectal usage?
meaning-in-context singular-vs-plural
asked 2 hours ago
dan
3,71622259
Probably "You're not the first one ... I had two (people) try ..." Where is this passage from? Weasley makes me think of Harry Potter.
– ColleenV♦
2 hours ago
@ColleenV: Yes, from Harry Potter. So, you meant 'try' is used as a verb here?
– dan
2 hours ago
2
Yes, it is. He had two [individuals] attempt to pay him with great gold coins. The "try" is a verb, and the phrasing "try and" is a common substitute for the more standard "try to".
– Gary Botnovcan
1 hour ago
Dan, the non-standard use of 'try and pay' makes this sentence extremely difficult to understand. They are not two different actions. As soon as that is replaced by 'try to pay', i.e. the one action it really was, the meaning is understandable. May I suggest Harry Potter books are an awful resource to use if you want to improve your English. They contain numerous examples of intentionally bad grammar used a form of humour.
– Ross Murray
31 mins ago
@RossMurray I was on the halfway of it, so I think I should finish it anyway.
– dan
4 mins ago
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
"You're not the first one who's had trouble with money," said Mr. Roberts, scrutinizing Mr. Weasley closely. "I had two try and pay me with great gold coins the size of hubcaps ten minutes ago."
I think "I had two try" here means Mr. Roberts had encounter this kind of situation two times. (Is my understanding correct?) I don't quite understand why the singular form of 'try' is being used, instead of the plural form "tries", given the word 'try' is actually an accountable noun. Is it a dialectal usage?
meaning-in-context singular-vs-plural
asked 2 hours ago
dan
3,71622259
"You're not the first one who's had trouble with money," said Mr. Roberts, scrutinizing Mr. Weasley closely. "I had two try and pay me with great gold coins the size of hubcaps ten minutes ago."
I think "I had two try" here means Mr. Roberts had encounter this kind of situation two times. (Is my understanding correct?) I don't quite understand why the singular form of 'try' is being used, instead of the plural form "tries", given the word 'try' is actually an accountable noun. Is it a dialectal usage?
meaning-in-context singular-vs-plural
meaning-in-context singular-vs-plural
asked 2 hours ago
dan
3,71622259
asked 2 hours ago
dan
3,71622259
asked 2 hours ago
dan
3,71622259
asked 2 hours ago
dan
3,71622259
asked 2 hours ago
dan
3,71622259
3,71622259
Probably "You're not the first one ... I had two (people) try ..." Where is this passage from? Weasley makes me think of Harry Potter.
– ColleenV♦
2 hours ago
@ColleenV: Yes, from Harry Potter. So, you meant 'try' is used as a verb here?
– dan
2 hours ago
2
Yes, it is. He had two [individuals] attempt to pay him with great gold coins. The "try" is a verb, and the phrasing "try and" is a common substitute for the more standard "try to".
– Gary Botnovcan
1 hour ago
Dan, the non-standard use of 'try and pay' makes this sentence extremely difficult to understand. They are not two different actions. As soon as that is replaced by 'try to pay', i.e. the one action it really was, the meaning is understandable. May I suggest Harry Potter books are an awful resource to use if you want to improve your English. They contain numerous examples of intentionally bad grammar used a form of humour.
– Ross Murray
31 mins ago
@RossMurray I was on the halfway of it, so I think I should finish it anyway.
– dan
4 mins ago
add a comment |
Probably "You're not the first one ... I had two (people) try ..." Where is this passage from? Weasley makes me think of Harry Potter.
– ColleenV♦
2 hours ago
@ColleenV: Yes, from Harry Potter. So, you meant 'try' is used as a verb here?
– dan
2 hours ago
2
Yes, it is. He had two [individuals] attempt to pay him with great gold coins. The "try" is a verb, and the phrasing "try and" is a common substitute for the more standard "try to".
– Gary Botnovcan
1 hour ago
Dan, the non-standard use of 'try and pay' makes this sentence extremely difficult to understand. They are not two different actions. As soon as that is replaced by 'try to pay', i.e. the one action it really was, the meaning is understandable. May I suggest Harry Potter books are an awful resource to use if you want to improve your English. They contain numerous examples of intentionally bad grammar used a form of humour.
– Ross Murray
31 mins ago
@RossMurray I was on the halfway of it, so I think I should finish it anyway.
– dan
4 mins ago
Probably "You're not the first one ... I had two (people) try ..." Where is this passage from? Weasley makes me think of Harry Potter.
– ColleenV♦
2 hours ago
Probably "You're not the first one ... I had two (people) try ..." Where is this passage from? Weasley makes me think of Harry Potter.
– ColleenV♦
2 hours ago
@ColleenV: Yes, from Harry Potter. So, you meant 'try' is used as a verb here?
– dan
2 hours ago
@ColleenV: Yes, from Harry Potter. So, you meant 'try' is used as a verb here?
– dan
2 hours ago
2
2
Yes, it is. He had two [individuals] attempt to pay him with great gold coins. The "try" is a verb, and the phrasing "try and" is a common substitute for the more standard "try to".
– Gary Botnovcan
1 hour ago
Yes, it is. He had two [individuals] attempt to pay him with great gold coins. The "try" is a verb, and the phrasing "try and" is a common substitute for the more standard "try to".
– Gary Botnovcan
1 hour ago
Dan, the non-standard use of 'try and pay' makes this sentence extremely difficult to understand. They are not two different actions. As soon as that is replaced by 'try to pay', i.e. the one action it really was, the meaning is understandable. May I suggest Harry Potter books are an awful resource to use if you want to improve your English. They contain numerous examples of intentionally bad grammar used a form of humour.
– Ross Murray
31 mins ago
Dan, the non-standard use of 'try and pay' makes this sentence extremely difficult to understand. They are not two different actions. As soon as that is replaced by 'try to pay', i.e. the one action it really was, the meaning is understandable. May I suggest Harry Potter books are an awful resource to use if you want to improve your English. They contain numerous examples of intentionally bad grammar used a form of humour.
– Ross Murray
31 mins ago
@RossMurray I was on the halfway of it, so I think I should finish it anyway.
– dan
4 mins ago
@RossMurray I was on the halfway of it, so I think I should finish it anyway.
– dan
4 mins ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
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up vote
4
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With context being somewhat limited, it seems he is saying that he had (knew/met) two people who tried and paid him "with great gold coins the size of hubcaps ten minutes ago".
The HAVE + NOUN PHRASE (NP) + VERB construction means experience NP doing what the verb describes. For example:
I have had many people come up to me and ask me for money.
Another similar construction is HAVE + NP + VERB (past participle)
I had my car scuffed.
It should be noted here that HAVE constructions can also be used in causative sentences.
I will have my guy go over there.
I had my hair cut.
answered 2 hours ago
Eddie Kal
4,53041543
Is it "have + NP + do" the same as "have + NP + to do"? Is it also correct to say: "I have had many people to come up to me and ask me for money."?
– dan
2 hours ago
@dan You should use the bare infinitive, that is, an infinitive without "to". No, that sentence is incorrect.
– Eddie Kal
2 hours ago
But I found these examples in Collins dictionary: He had plenty of work to do. I have some important calls to make.
– dan
2 hours ago
1
@dan Those are not the same construction. He had plenty of work to do. implies "The plenty of work was for him to do." "He needed to worry about that work." I had two guys pay me. means "Two guys paid me."
– Eddie Kal
1 hour ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
4
down vote
With context being somewhat limited, it seems he is saying that he had (knew/met) two people who tried and paid him "with great gold coins the size of hubcaps ten minutes ago".
The HAVE + NOUN PHRASE (NP) + VERB construction means experience NP doing what the verb describes. For example:
I have had many people come up to me and ask me for money.
Another similar construction is HAVE + NP + VERB (past participle)
I had my car scuffed.
It should be noted here that HAVE constructions can also be used in causative sentences.
I will have my guy go over there.
I had my hair cut.
answered 2 hours ago
Eddie Kal
4,53041543
Is it "have + NP + do" the same as "have + NP + to do"? Is it also correct to say: "I have had many people to come up to me and ask me for money."?
– dan
2 hours ago
@dan You should use the bare infinitive, that is, an infinitive without "to". No, that sentence is incorrect.
– Eddie Kal
2 hours ago
But I found these examples in Collins dictionary: He had plenty of work to do. I have some important calls to make.
– dan
2 hours ago
1
@dan Those are not the same construction. He had plenty of work to do. implies "The plenty of work was for him to do." "He needed to worry about that work." I had two guys pay me. means "Two guys paid me."
– Eddie Kal
1 hour ago
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
With context being somewhat limited, it seems he is saying that he had (knew/met) two people who tried and paid him "with great gold coins the size of hubcaps ten minutes ago".
The HAVE + NOUN PHRASE (NP) + VERB construction means experience NP doing what the verb describes. For example:
I have had many people come up to me and ask me for money.
Another similar construction is HAVE + NP + VERB (past participle)
I had my car scuffed.
It should be noted here that HAVE constructions can also be used in causative sentences.
I will have my guy go over there.
I had my hair cut.
answered 2 hours ago
Eddie Kal
4,53041543
Is it "have + NP + do" the same as "have + NP + to do"? Is it also correct to say: "I have had many people to come up to me and ask me for money."?
– dan
2 hours ago
@dan You should use the bare infinitive, that is, an infinitive without "to". No, that sentence is incorrect.
– Eddie Kal
2 hours ago
But I found these examples in Collins dictionary: He had plenty of work to do. I have some important calls to make.
– dan
2 hours ago
1
@dan Those are not the same construction. He had plenty of work to do. implies "The plenty of work was for him to do." "He needed to worry about that work." I had two guys pay me. means "Two guys paid me."
– Eddie Kal
1 hour ago
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
With context being somewhat limited, it seems he is saying that he had (knew/met) two people who tried and paid him "with great gold coins the size of hubcaps ten minutes ago".
The HAVE + NOUN PHRASE (NP) + VERB construction means experience NP doing what the verb describes. For example:
I have had many people come up to me and ask me for money.
Another similar construction is HAVE + NP + VERB (past participle)
I had my car scuffed.
It should be noted here that HAVE constructions can also be used in causative sentences.
I will have my guy go over there.
I had my hair cut.
answered 2 hours ago
Eddie Kal
4,53041543
With context being somewhat limited, it seems he is saying that he had (knew/met) two people who tried and paid him "with great gold coins the size of hubcaps ten minutes ago".
The HAVE + NOUN PHRASE (NP) + VERB construction means experience NP doing what the verb describes. For example:
I have had many people come up to me and ask me for money.
Another similar construction is HAVE + NP + VERB (past participle)
I had my car scuffed.
It should be noted here that HAVE constructions can also be used in causative sentences.
I will have my guy go over there.
I had my hair cut.
answered 2 hours ago
Eddie Kal
4,53041543
edited 2 hours ago
answered 2 hours ago
Eddie Kal
4,53041543
answered 2 hours ago
Eddie Kal
4,53041543
answered 2 hours ago
Eddie Kal
4,53041543
4,53041543
Is it "have + NP + do" the same as "have + NP + to do"? Is it also correct to say: "I have had many people to come up to me and ask me for money."?
– dan
2 hours ago
@dan You should use the bare infinitive, that is, an infinitive without "to". No, that sentence is incorrect.
– Eddie Kal
2 hours ago
But I found these examples in Collins dictionary: He had plenty of work to do. I have some important calls to make.
– dan
2 hours ago
1
@dan Those are not the same construction. He had plenty of work to do. implies "The plenty of work was for him to do." "He needed to worry about that work." I had two guys pay me. means "Two guys paid me."
– Eddie Kal
1 hour ago
add a comment |
Is it "have + NP + do" the same as "have + NP + to do"? Is it also correct to say: "I have had many people to come up to me and ask me for money."?
– dan
2 hours ago
@dan You should use the bare infinitive, that is, an infinitive without "to". No, that sentence is incorrect.
– Eddie Kal
2 hours ago
But I found these examples in Collins dictionary: He had plenty of work to do. I have some important calls to make.
– dan
2 hours ago
1
@dan Those are not the same construction. He had plenty of work to do. implies "The plenty of work was for him to do." "He needed to worry about that work." I had two guys pay me. means "Two guys paid me."
– Eddie Kal
1 hour ago
Is it "have + NP + do" the same as "have + NP + to do"? Is it also correct to say: "I have had many people to come up to me and ask me for money."?
– dan
2 hours ago
Is it "have + NP + do" the same as "have + NP + to do"? Is it also correct to say: "I have had many people to come up to me and ask me for money."?
– dan
2 hours ago
@dan You should use the bare infinitive, that is, an infinitive without "to". No, that sentence is incorrect.
– Eddie Kal
2 hours ago
@dan You should use the bare infinitive, that is, an infinitive without "to". No, that sentence is incorrect.
– Eddie Kal
2 hours ago
But I found these examples in Collins dictionary: He had plenty of work to do. I have some important calls to make.
– dan
2 hours ago
But I found these examples in Collins dictionary: He had plenty of work to do. I have some important calls to make.
– dan
2 hours ago
1
1
@dan Those are not the same construction. He had plenty of work to do. implies "The plenty of work was for him to do." "He needed to worry about that work." I had two guys pay me. means "Two guys paid me."
– Eddie Kal
1 hour ago
@dan Those are not the same construction. He had plenty of work to do. implies "The plenty of work was for him to do." "He needed to worry about that work." I had two guys pay me. means "Two guys paid me."
– Eddie Kal
1 hour ago
add a comment |
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Probably "You're not the first one ... I had two (people) try ..." Where is this passage from? Weasley makes me think of Harry Potter.
– ColleenV♦
2 hours ago
@ColleenV: Yes, from Harry Potter. So, you meant 'try' is used as a verb here?
– dan
2 hours ago
2
Yes, it is. He had two [individuals] attempt to pay him with great gold coins. The "try" is a verb, and the phrasing "try and" is a common substitute for the more standard "try to".
– Gary Botnovcan
1 hour ago
Dan, the non-standard use of 'try and pay' makes this sentence extremely difficult to understand. They are not two different actions. As soon as that is replaced by 'try to pay', i.e. the one action it really was, the meaning is understandable. May I suggest Harry Potter books are an awful resource to use if you want to improve your English. They contain numerous examples of intentionally bad grammar used a form of humour.
– Ross Murray
31 mins ago
@RossMurray I was on the halfway of it, so I think I should finish it anyway.
– dan
4 mins ago