While the common phrases are "drive a car", "pilot a plane" and "captain a boat", is it still technically correct if not wonky looking to saw "drive a plane" or "drive a boat"? This came up because my friend was saying that drive only involves cars (and roads... for some reason she thinks you can't drive without roads). I say it involves any vehicle, possibly motor vehicle.
While searching on google for those phrases brings them up, doesn't saw if they are correct or not.
Thanks. I did look it up on dictionary.com and they didn't seem to care. I should realize when showing them the definition doesn't work that I should give up.
FYI it is not uncommon to 'pilot' boats either. I'm pretty sure most of the terminologies used for vehicles are interchangeable and are not exclusive to any one set of vehicles.
Your friend doesn't saw that English can be rather flexible most of the time.
It's kind of cute, but there's nothing wrong with saying "drive a boat/plane."
It's not like any english speaker is going to misunderstand you.
To "drive" without specifying the vehicle would imply operating a wheeled vehicle, most likely one with more than one axle as if it were a bike/motorcycle one would think they'd use "ride."
Your friend is being a pedant. One can also "drive" cattle.
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MetalbourneInside a cluster b personalityRegistered Userregular
I don't know, I don't see anything wrong with considering some uses more acceptable than others. When I picture a person saying "Can I drive the plane?" I hear it coming from a small child or someone with english as their second language. It's awkward, and despite being a technically valid use of the word, it isn't "morally" valid.
You drive planes before they take off, right? They're on roads then ;D Plus there's that Soul Coughing song, that goes "A man drives a plane into the Chrysler building..."
You can rebut your friend by asking her to define the word "well" or blow her mind by explaining how the phrase "She said 'English is a simple language'" can also be "She went 'English is a simple language" as well as "She was like 'English is a simple language." And then you can explain how by going backwards you're simply more specific in your terminology, rather than more correct.
You can also drive a person up a wall. hahahahahaha
Driving a plane or a ship sounds kinda awkward but it is widely-used so it has become acceptable. I am not saying that the use of the word "drive" can only be used in connection with cars. It is just that it sounds more correct.
I think with the times rules have become more lax than most hard-core editors wished. That's like driving a stake in their hearts.
FYI it is not uncommon to 'pilot' boats either. I'm pretty sure most of the terminologies used for vehicles are interchangeable and are not exclusive to any one set of vehicles.
Your friend doesn't saw that English can be rather flexible most of the time.
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Your friend doesn't saw that English can be rather flexible most of the time.
Streaming 8PST on weeknights
It's not like any english speaker is going to misunderstand you.
To "drive" without specifying the vehicle would imply operating a wheeled vehicle, most likely one with more than one axle as if it were a bike/motorcycle one would think they'd use "ride."
Your friend is being a pedant. One can also "drive" cattle.
I don't know, I don't see anything wrong with considering some uses more acceptable than others. When I picture a person saying "Can I drive the plane?" I hear it coming from a small child or someone with english as their second language. It's awkward, and despite being a technically valid use of the word, it isn't "morally" valid.
You can rebut your friend by asking her to define the word "well" or blow her mind by explaining how the phrase "She said 'English is a simple language'" can also be "She went 'English is a simple language" as well as "She was like 'English is a simple language." And then you can explain how by going backwards you're simply more specific in your terminology, rather than more correct.
Driving a plane or a ship sounds kinda awkward but it is widely-used so it has become acceptable. I am not saying that the use of the word "drive" can only be used in connection with cars. It is just that it sounds more correct.
I think with the times rules have become more lax than most hard-core editors wished. That's like driving a stake in their hearts.
hehehehe.
Don't forget about Harbour Pilots.
Let's not drive these puns into the ground.