Use of the verb fathom Announcing the arrival of Valued Associate #679: Cesar Manara Planned maintenance scheduled April 17/18, 2019 at 00:00UTC (8:00pm US/Eastern)“Hello” as a verbProper use of the verb 'eclipse'Verb for gradual learningTo + verb, bare verb or verb + ing in noun phrasesUsage of the verb “pore”Thanks for checking this video out VS checking out this videoWhy include “to” when speaking about verbs?Word order for a split verbYou can say cometh/commeth and you can say hast come but not hast cometh, why?How to spot a verb in a sentence?
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Use of the verb fathom
Announcing the arrival of Valued Associate #679: Cesar Manara
Planned maintenance scheduled April 17/18, 2019 at 00:00UTC (8:00pm US/Eastern)“Hello” as a verbProper use of the verb 'eclipse'Verb for gradual learningTo + verb, bare verb or verb + ing in noun phrasesUsage of the verb “pore”Thanks for checking this video out VS checking out this videoWhy include “to” when speaking about verbs?Word order for a split verbYou can say cometh/commeth and you can say hast come but not hast cometh, why?How to spot a verb in a sentence?
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Regarding the use of the verb fathom, is it correct to say this?
I can no longer fathom the difference between right and wrong.
Merriam-Webster says:
fathom: to penetrate and come to understand
So my understanding is that it's perfectly fine, but I wanted to make sure.
verbs
asked 5 hours ago
Amir A. ShabaniAmir A. Shabani
1034
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Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
Regarding the use of the verb fathom, is it correct to say this?
I can no longer fathom the difference between right and wrong.
Merriam-Webster says:
fathom: to penetrate and come to understand
So my understanding is that it's perfectly fine, but I wanted to make sure.
verbs
asked 5 hours ago
Amir A. ShabaniAmir A. Shabani
1034
New contributor
Amir A. Shabani is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
Regarding the use of the verb fathom, is it correct to say this?
I can no longer fathom the difference between right and wrong.
Merriam-Webster says:
fathom: to penetrate and come to understand
So my understanding is that it's perfectly fine, but I wanted to make sure.
verbs
asked 5 hours ago
Amir A. ShabaniAmir A. Shabani
1034
New contributor
Amir A. Shabani is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Regarding the use of the verb fathom, is it correct to say this?
I can no longer fathom the difference between right and wrong.
Merriam-Webster says:
fathom: to penetrate and come to understand
So my understanding is that it's perfectly fine, but I wanted to make sure.
verbs
verbs
asked 5 hours ago
Amir A. ShabaniAmir A. Shabani
1034
New contributor
Amir A. Shabani is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 5 hours ago
Amir A. ShabaniAmir A. Shabani
1034
New contributor
Amir A. Shabani is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 5 hours ago
Amir A. ShabaniAmir A. Shabani
1034
New contributor
Amir A. Shabani is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 5 hours ago
Amir A. ShabaniAmir A. Shabani
1034
asked 5 hours ago
Amir A. ShabaniAmir A. Shabani
1034
1034
New contributor
Amir A. Shabani is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Amir A. Shabani is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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2 Answers
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Yes that usage makes sense. Fathom is a little more intense than just understand. If you can't fathom something, then you cannot begin to understand even the most basic aspects of it. It's completely outside the realm of your understanding.
answered 5 hours ago
KKlokeKKloke
361
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That's exactly what I meant to say, thanks.
– Amir A. Shabani
5 hours ago
add a comment |
Fathom is a very unusual verb with severely restricted syntax, in that it's a Negative Polarity Item like drink a drop or ever (i.e, it requires a negative context, and is ungrammatical in an affirmative one):
I haven't ever seen Niagara Falls. ~ *I have ever seen Niagara Falls.They say he doesn't drink a drop now. ~ *They say he drinks a drop now.
I can no longer fathom the difference between right and wrong.
- *I can now fathom the difference between right and wrong.
And fathom is also a Possible Polarity Item, like tell time.
Possible polarity items require a potential-type ("diamond") modal auxiliary like
can, may, might, could, or some other modal word like possible or able.
She can tell time. ~ She can't tell time. ~ *She didn't tell time.
*I fathomed the difference between right and wrong. (no neg, no modal)
- *I didn't fathom the difference between right and wrong. (neg but no modal)
- *I can fathom the difference between right and wrong. (modal but no neg)
I can't fathom the difference between right and wrong. (modal and neg)
The combination of these two restrictions makes it what's called an
Impossible Polarity Item in the trade; that's unusual, and means that it's not used often.
answered 35 mins ago
John LawlerJohn Lawler
85.1k6118336
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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active
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2 Answers
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Yes that usage makes sense. Fathom is a little more intense than just understand. If you can't fathom something, then you cannot begin to understand even the most basic aspects of it. It's completely outside the realm of your understanding.
answered 5 hours ago
KKlokeKKloke
361
New contributor
KKloke is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
That's exactly what I meant to say, thanks.
– Amir A. Shabani
5 hours ago
add a comment |
Yes that usage makes sense. Fathom is a little more intense than just understand. If you can't fathom something, then you cannot begin to understand even the most basic aspects of it. It's completely outside the realm of your understanding.
answered 5 hours ago
KKlokeKKloke
361
New contributor
KKloke is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
That's exactly what I meant to say, thanks.
– Amir A. Shabani
5 hours ago
add a comment |
Yes that usage makes sense. Fathom is a little more intense than just understand. If you can't fathom something, then you cannot begin to understand even the most basic aspects of it. It's completely outside the realm of your understanding.
answered 5 hours ago
KKlokeKKloke
361
New contributor
KKloke is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Yes that usage makes sense. Fathom is a little more intense than just understand. If you can't fathom something, then you cannot begin to understand even the most basic aspects of it. It's completely outside the realm of your understanding.
answered 5 hours ago
KKlokeKKloke
361
New contributor
KKloke is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 5 hours ago
KKlokeKKloke
361
New contributor
KKloke is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 5 hours ago
KKlokeKKloke
361
answered 5 hours ago
KKlokeKKloke
361
361
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KKloke is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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New contributor
KKloke is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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That's exactly what I meant to say, thanks.
– Amir A. Shabani
5 hours ago
add a comment |
That's exactly what I meant to say, thanks.
– Amir A. Shabani
5 hours ago
That's exactly what I meant to say, thanks.
– Amir A. Shabani
5 hours ago
That's exactly what I meant to say, thanks.
– Amir A. Shabani
5 hours ago
add a comment |
Fathom is a very unusual verb with severely restricted syntax, in that it's a Negative Polarity Item like drink a drop or ever (i.e, it requires a negative context, and is ungrammatical in an affirmative one):
I haven't ever seen Niagara Falls. ~ *I have ever seen Niagara Falls.They say he doesn't drink a drop now. ~ *They say he drinks a drop now.
I can no longer fathom the difference between right and wrong.
- *I can now fathom the difference between right and wrong.
And fathom is also a Possible Polarity Item, like tell time.
Possible polarity items require a potential-type ("diamond") modal auxiliary like
can, may, might, could, or some other modal word like possible or able.
She can tell time. ~ She can't tell time. ~ *She didn't tell time.
*I fathomed the difference between right and wrong. (no neg, no modal)
- *I didn't fathom the difference between right and wrong. (neg but no modal)
- *I can fathom the difference between right and wrong. (modal but no neg)
I can't fathom the difference between right and wrong. (modal and neg)
The combination of these two restrictions makes it what's called an
Impossible Polarity Item in the trade; that's unusual, and means that it's not used often.
answered 35 mins ago
John LawlerJohn Lawler
85.1k6118336
add a comment |
Fathom is a very unusual verb with severely restricted syntax, in that it's a Negative Polarity Item like drink a drop or ever (i.e, it requires a negative context, and is ungrammatical in an affirmative one):
I haven't ever seen Niagara Falls. ~ *I have ever seen Niagara Falls.They say he doesn't drink a drop now. ~ *They say he drinks a drop now.
I can no longer fathom the difference between right and wrong.
- *I can now fathom the difference between right and wrong.
And fathom is also a Possible Polarity Item, like tell time.
Possible polarity items require a potential-type ("diamond") modal auxiliary like
can, may, might, could, or some other modal word like possible or able.
She can tell time. ~ She can't tell time. ~ *She didn't tell time.
*I fathomed the difference between right and wrong. (no neg, no modal)
- *I didn't fathom the difference between right and wrong. (neg but no modal)
- *I can fathom the difference between right and wrong. (modal but no neg)
I can't fathom the difference between right and wrong. (modal and neg)
The combination of these two restrictions makes it what's called an
Impossible Polarity Item in the trade; that's unusual, and means that it's not used often.
answered 35 mins ago
John LawlerJohn Lawler
85.1k6118336
add a comment |
Fathom is a very unusual verb with severely restricted syntax, in that it's a Negative Polarity Item like drink a drop or ever (i.e, it requires a negative context, and is ungrammatical in an affirmative one):
I haven't ever seen Niagara Falls. ~ *I have ever seen Niagara Falls.They say he doesn't drink a drop now. ~ *They say he drinks a drop now.
I can no longer fathom the difference between right and wrong.
- *I can now fathom the difference between right and wrong.
And fathom is also a Possible Polarity Item, like tell time.
Possible polarity items require a potential-type ("diamond") modal auxiliary like
can, may, might, could, or some other modal word like possible or able.
She can tell time. ~ She can't tell time. ~ *She didn't tell time.
*I fathomed the difference between right and wrong. (no neg, no modal)
- *I didn't fathom the difference between right and wrong. (neg but no modal)
- *I can fathom the difference between right and wrong. (modal but no neg)
I can't fathom the difference between right and wrong. (modal and neg)
The combination of these two restrictions makes it what's called an
Impossible Polarity Item in the trade; that's unusual, and means that it's not used often.
answered 35 mins ago
John LawlerJohn Lawler
85.1k6118336
Fathom is a very unusual verb with severely restricted syntax, in that it's a Negative Polarity Item like drink a drop or ever (i.e, it requires a negative context, and is ungrammatical in an affirmative one):
I haven't ever seen Niagara Falls. ~ *I have ever seen Niagara Falls.They say he doesn't drink a drop now. ~ *They say he drinks a drop now.
I can no longer fathom the difference between right and wrong.
- *I can now fathom the difference between right and wrong.
And fathom is also a Possible Polarity Item, like tell time.
Possible polarity items require a potential-type ("diamond") modal auxiliary like
can, may, might, could, or some other modal word like possible or able.
She can tell time. ~ She can't tell time. ~ *She didn't tell time.
*I fathomed the difference between right and wrong. (no neg, no modal)
- *I didn't fathom the difference between right and wrong. (neg but no modal)
- *I can fathom the difference between right and wrong. (modal but no neg)
I can't fathom the difference between right and wrong. (modal and neg)
The combination of these two restrictions makes it what's called an
Impossible Polarity Item in the trade; that's unusual, and means that it's not used often.
answered 35 mins ago
John LawlerJohn Lawler
85.1k6118336
answered 35 mins ago
John LawlerJohn Lawler
85.1k6118336
answered 35 mins ago
John LawlerJohn Lawler
85.1k6118336
answered 35 mins ago
John LawlerJohn Lawler
85.1k6118336
85.1k6118336
add a comment |
add a comment |
Amir A. Shabani is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Amir A. Shabani is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Amir A. Shabani is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Amir A. Shabani is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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