شنبه, ۲۵ ارديبهشت ۱۳۹۵، ۱۱:۱۱ ق.ظ
Pity
pity
noun
1
BAD: When I saw these pity children, my eyes filled with tears.
GOOD: When I saw these pitiful children, my eyes filled with tears.
◆◆◆
pity (noun) = a feeling that you have when you feel sad and sorry for someone because of their situation: 'They don't want our pity. They need our help.'
pitiful (adjective) = causing people to feel sad and sorry: 'The horses were in a pitiful condition, thin and covered with sores.'
2
BAD: She expected me to feel pity on her and help her.
GOOD: She expected me to take pity on her and help her.
GOOD: She expected me to feel pity for her and help her.
◆◆◆
take pity on : 'Eventually a kind motorist took pity on us and offered us a lift.'
feel pity for : 'Being a widow, she expects you to feel pity for her.'
1
BAD: When I saw these pity children, my eyes filled with tears.
GOOD: When I saw these pitiful children, my eyes filled with tears.
◆◆◆
pity (noun) = a feeling that you have when you feel sad and sorry for someone because of their situation: 'They don't want our pity. They need our help.'
pitiful (adjective) = causing people to feel sad and sorry: 'The horses were in a pitiful condition, thin and covered with sores.'
2
BAD: She expected me to feel pity on her and help her.
GOOD: She expected me to take pity on her and help her.
GOOD: She expected me to feel pity for her and help her.
◆◆◆
take pity on : 'Eventually a kind motorist took pity on us and offered us a lift.'
feel pity for : 'Being a widow, she expects you to feel pity for her.'
pity • sorrow • pain
- One always feels (a) particular sorrow at the
death of a child. (Not *pity* *pain*) (= a feeling of great
sadness)
- Pity is not enough. What the refugees need is food and medicine. (Not *Sorrow*) (= sympathy for someone's misfortune)
- Pain and suffering are part of the human condition. (Not *Pity*) (= physical or mental distress)
- Pity is not enough. What the refugees need is food and medicine. (Not *Sorrow*) (= sympathy for someone's misfortune)
- Pain and suffering are part of the human condition. (Not *Pity*) (= physical or mental distress)
pity • take pity on
- I took pity on the poor beggar and gave
him some money. (Not * took pity for/with*) (take pity on = feel
sorry and try to help; have pity on = be merciful is only used in old
stories)
- You say you pity the homeless, but what are you doing about them? (pity refers to feeling and is not necessarily followed by action)
it’s a pity/shame /ɪts ə ˈpɪti, ˈʃeɪm/ spoken
say this to show that you feel disappointed or sad about something that has happened:
▪ It’s a pity about the weather - it was so nice yesterday.
it’s a pity/shame (that)
▪ It’s a shame you can’t come with us.
what a pity/shame!
say this to show that you feel sad or sympathetic about something
▪ ‘Janet didn’t get that job.’ ‘Oh, what a pity!’
a real/terrible shame
▪ They’ve cut down all those beautiful trees. It’s a terrible shame.
more’s the pity /ˌmɔːʳz ðə ˈpɪti/ British spoken
say this when you wish that the fact that you have just mentioned was not true:
▪ Now I’m too old to fall in love, more’s the pity.
▪ I’m afraid this car doesn’t belong to me, more’s the pity.
- You say you pity the homeless, but what are you doing about them? (pity refers to feeling and is not necessarily followed by action)
it’s a pity/shame /ɪts ə ˈpɪti, ˈʃeɪm/ spoken
say this to show that you feel disappointed or sad about something that has happened:
▪ It’s a pity about the weather - it was so nice yesterday.
it’s a pity/shame (that)
▪ It’s a shame you can’t come with us.
what a pity/shame!
say this to show that you feel sad or sympathetic about something
▪ ‘Janet didn’t get that job.’ ‘Oh, what a pity!’
a real/terrible shame
▪ They’ve cut down all those beautiful trees. It’s a terrible shame.
more’s the pity /ˌmɔːʳz ðə ˈpɪti/ British spoken
say this when you wish that the fact that you have just mentioned was not true:
▪ Now I’m too old to fall in love, more’s the pity.
▪ I’m afraid this car doesn’t belong to me, more’s the pity.
