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خَيْزُران
Is "to show somebody's + a noun" a correct word group?
Hello!
I've seen "to show his honest".
When I translated it into Chinese, the "honest" should be a noun.
Anyway, in the English language, the word honest isn't a noun...
So is it still right then please?...
Oct 28, 2016 2:27 PM
Answers · 6
2
Thanks for your question. I think the others have done a good job of answering it.
It depends if the whole sentence is using "honest" correctly as an adjective. I don't have the entire sentence, so it's hard for me to say.
For example,
to show his honest opinion
to show his honest bearing
to show his honest way of doing things
The examples above are all acceptable ways to use the adjective "honest."
But, if you need the noun form with the infinitive as in these phrases:
To show respect
To show thoughtfulness
To show caution and prudence
then, you need the noun form of the adjective "honest."
"Honesty" is the noun form.
To show honesty and integrity and righteousness
Or if you want to use the adjective, you can substitute a noun clause for the word "honesty."
He has to show that he is honest.
He has to show that he's an honest person.
I hope that was my honest answer for you.
October 28, 2016
2
Honest is an adjective. You need a noun. Honesty.
Show somebody's noun is a fine pattern
"Show your true colors" is an expression.
Some examples:
Show them the book
Show off your car
October 28, 2016
1
to show his honesty.
October 28, 2016
1
To answer the question in the title - the phrase is correct, but it doesn't mean what you think it does. In "to show somebody's + a noun", the 's is short for "is". It doesn't indicate possession here.
October 28, 2016
1
Is that the full phrase? Then it should read "...to show his honesty".
Perhaps there's a noun which follows "honest", such as "to show his honest intentions".
Alternately, the phrase could be badly-written, and should read "to show he's honest".
October 28, 2016
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خَيْزُران
Language Skills
Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English
Learning Language
English
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