On Mon, 20 Jul 1998 03:10:36 -0700 (PDT), John Cowan wrote:
> Michael Everson scripsit:
>
> > Ar 20:50 -0700 1998-07-18, scríobh John Cowan:
> >
> > >It is true that the copula can be omitted in a hed, but not when placed
> > >between two noun phrases: "PRESIDENT [IS] ASSASSINATED" is a good
> > >hed, but "PRESIDENT [IS] ASSASSIN" is not.
> >
> > The second one means "The Président assassinates" not "the Président is an
> > assassine.
>
> Okay, my Latin (and Brithenig) are a whole lot better than my French.
> But surely "assassinate" ("murder", whatever) requires a direct object
> even in French?
Not necessarily, no.
"Le président assassine" may be a bit contrived, but is nonetheless
perfectly valid without an object, just as "The president commits
murder" would be valid in English without an object.
-- John Wilcock, http://www.tradoc.fr/john/
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