How is the word dire used?
Adjectives are usually used attributively: a red rose, a tall man, a beautiful girl. These attributive adjectives may also be used predicatively; i.e, in the predicate position. The rose is red/The man is tall, etc.
In the attributive use the adjective is mostly found behind the noun. It is in a pre-modifier position. But in certain fixed phrases the adjective appears after the noun; i.e. in a post- modifier position. Heir apparent, heir presumptive, Lords temporal (spiritual), Surgeon-General.
But some adjectives are used only attributively: a heavy smoker , an early raiser, a perfect stranger. In these cases there are no alternative forms like the smoker is heavy; the stranger is perfect, etc. Another adjective of this type is core; core issues, core competence. We should concentrate on core issues. Not, issues which are core.
Dire is in this category; in dire circumstances (in a situation causing extreme distress; terrible; also in a financially very difficult situation). Occasionally you may find a sentence like, Take care, the consequences will be dire. But in the majority of cases it is a pre-modifying adjective.
Suggest A very common mistake in the use of this verb is seen in: I suggested him a solution. The correct form is: I suggested to him a solution.
Verbs like give, tell, inform ... take two objects; a direct object and an indirect object. In, I sent a gift to Sheila, gift is the direct object; to Sheila is the indirect object. In an alternative construction we have, I sent Sheila a gift.
The incorrect construction with suggest is not limited to students in schools and colleges. It is found in the English of well-educated people as well (in India). Here is a wellknown Management Guru writing: '...the theories that suggest you the most ultimate way to make money in the stock market were garbage.' delve--dwell Both these words have a common meaning: to deal with or examine a topic. Delve suggests a deeper investigation. Delve deep into a subject. Dwell can be a not-sointense examination. In the course of his address the Minister dwelt on the literacy campaign in his district.
The point to note is that these two words go with different prepositions: to delve into, to dwell upon. In the same article referred to above the writer observes that it ( a recent much-talked-about movie) 'delves on no issue'.
In the column dated 13tth July2009 I wrote about parodies. Readers cannot have failed to notice that most of the verses cited were by me. In defence I can only repeat (with some modifications) what an American professor told his students (I was one of them) about a book he recommended for re a d i n g . I t w a s a c o u r s e o n Sociolinguistics. The professor was Dr Fishman. The book he recommended was his own book. As an apolo g y ( in the sense of 'defence') he said: 'I am recommending this book not because it is the best book on the subject but it is the book I know best.' I offer the same defence for quoting my own verses.
A point not made in that article for want of space-- was that parodies can be in verse or prose. But they are usually in verse because, for one thing, it is usually short and so can make its point better.
But in prose, too, you will find them. And the best ones are those, which appear in advertisements. When Morton salt announces: When it rains it pours, it is turning upside down the phrase: It pours when it rains (think of Mumbai monsoons).
Domino's pizza has a line, which is worth citing in this connection. John. F Kennedy said: 'Ask not what the country can do for you. Ask yourself what you can do for the country.' Here is Domino's pizza, announcing on its home delivery box: 'Ask not what your crust can do for you. Ask if it has cheese on it'----The Secretary of Taste.
The writer can be contacted at ksyadurajan@yahoo.com