On Fri, Oct 24, 2003 at 10:54:26PM +0200, David Jardine wrote: > On Fri, Oct 24, 2003 at 12:11:49PM -0700, Erik Steffl wrote: > > > > english is like lego, yes there are some pieces that change shape > > etc. but it consists mostly of bricks and brick like pieces. german (and > > lot of other languages) is more like putty - you mold things together. > > the lego-like structure of english makes it easier to create a computer > > language... > > > > But what the hell is English about the syntax of, for example, > > if(isRed(the_fork)) ? > > It sounds more like Italian to me. >
I think the "the" is throwing you: I would say isRed(fork) contains an implied [it] and [a]: [it] | is | fork -----|----|---------- | | \ \ \a \red fork is a "predicate noun", red is an adjective But fork.isRed would be: fork | is \ red -----|-----\---- | fork is the subject, red is "a predicate adjective" i'm just guessing, haven't diagrammed sentences since 6th grade I don't even think they teach this anymore -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]