Question

25 Nov 2020

Japanese

English (US)
English (UK)

Question about English (US)

(edited version)
"to play + something"
This is a form that my American tutor sometimes uses. Could you give me some examples using the structure?
its like playing like a role

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Answers

ihasmickey

25 Nov 2020

English (US)

To play happily.
To play freely.
To play energetically.
To play roughly.
I hope this helps, I’m not sure what you meant by examples.😁

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Salvatore_Richard_Go

25 Nov 2020

English (US)

@learning257

I think you mean “adverb” and not “adjective.” Adjectives only modify nouns. Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. Since “to play” is a verb that is being modified.

@ihasmickey has given some great examples.

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learning257

26 Nov 2020

Japanese

@ihasmickey @Salvatore_Richard_Go

im currently taking her lesson and she gave me these examples. I need other perspectives. i hope you will still have some additional examples.。。。）

She's toying with your feelings. - she's playing with your heart. (a manipulator)
You don't have to play counselor- you don't have to take on the role of counselor...

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learning257

26 Nov 2020

Japanese

You don't have to play cop, bro. (if your brother keeps telling on you)

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Salvatore_Richard_Go

27 Nov 2020

English (US)

@learning257

These are idiomatic expressions.

“To play” followed by a noun that is a profession or job (counselor, cop, busboy, actor, etc) means to act like you are in that job or profession when you are not, sometimes it is used hyperbolically, i.e. cops enforce the laws —> playing cop trying to enforce rules. It is short for “to play at being a cop/counselor/profession/job.

“To play” can also have metaphorical connotations (mental or emotional manipulation) rather than physical manifestations (sports, instruments, boardgames, etc). I.e Playing with your heart —> not physically playing with your heart, but manipulating emotions. Playing with your mind —> not physically playing with a head or brain, but manipulating information and decision capacity.

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(edited version)"to play + something"This is a form that my American tutor sometimes uses. Could you give me some examples using the structure?its like playing like a role See a translation

To play happily.To play freely.To play energetically.To play roughly.I hope this helps, I’m not sure what you meant by examples.😁

@learning257I think you mean “adverb” and not “adjective.” Adjectives only modify nouns. Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. Since “to play” is a verb that is being modified. @ihasmickey has given some great examples.

(edited version)
"to play + something"
This is a form that my American tutor sometimes uses. Could you give me some examples using the structure?
its like playing like a role

See a translation

To play happily.
To play freely.
To play energetically.
To play roughly.
I hope this helps, I’m not sure what you meant by examples.😁

@learning257

I think you mean “adverb” and not “adjective.” Adjectives only modify nouns. Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. Since “to play” is a verb that is being modified.

@ihasmickey has given some great examples.