My friend asked me an interesting question. She noted in my blog that I wrote "Let's blog and learn new languages in a fun way". She did not realize that the word "blog" could be used as a verb. She asked me what was the rule regarding the use a noun as a word. I have to say that there is no such rule. Practically any noun can be used as a verb. I am saying "practically". It means you cannot do so in examinations. 

I think many nouns have been used as verbs such as, walk, play, train, chat, talk etc. etc.. I will call such verbs "noun verbs".  Some noun verbs which are so widely use that there are no any better substitutions. Below are some of the examples (there are many many more):

  • Buzz me. Ring me. Phone me.
  • Are you blackmailing me?
  • Are you bulls****ing me (a bad word, don't ever use it in your exam!!!)
  • Prices are skyrocketing.
  • Obama is kowtowing (叩头) to China.
  • The project was hijacked (stolen) by him. 
  • The police fingerprinted the the suspect.
  • They railroaded (convicted with haste) the accused man.
  • Chinese boycotted Carrefour supermarket. (Boycott was the name of an Irishman in nineteenth century.) 
  • I have bookmarked/favorited the website.
  • The event was documented (videotaped). 
  • Please airmail the letter to me.
  • Prices were jacked up by speculators.

As you can see English is very flexible. It can go as far as your imagination can take you. You can create new English words. As a matter of fact some brand names are so popular that they are widely accepted as verbs for the respective functions that they perform. 

  • Please xerox  (copy) the document for me.
  • Please google it (do an internet search).
  • Please qq (or msn) me.
  • Please fedex (or courier) the sample to me.

Can you think of such noun verbs? Please let me know.

kamal
5/10/2010 05:37:10 am

hi :)
thank you very much for this worthful information, in fact i have never paid attention to this question of "noun verbs" as you said.
it's very interesting to teach from you as a chinese this english stuff.
thank you :)

Reply
Jessica
5/11/2010 09:37:12 pm

The old man snailed into the room.
She nurses her aged parents.
Are these correct?

Reply
Brandon Zin
5/11/2010 10:31:00 pm

Jessica, those two are very good examples. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary,both can be used as verbs.

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Jessica
5/11/2010 10:47:05 pm

Really,I was not sure whether they are right or not.In favt, the inspiration came from one of my roommates who is impatient,and one of my best friends who is a nurse.Today is International Nurses' Day

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Jessica
5/11/2010 10:49:56 pm

囧 I've just made a spelling mistake, "In fact" not "In favt"
Brandon, how to translate"纪念汶川大地震两周年" into English?

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Brandon Zin
5/11/2010 11:01:40 pm

Jessica,

1. Commemorating the second anniversary of the Wenchuan earthquake.

2. I did not know today is the International Nurse Day. I just came back from a hospital. I could have mentioned this to the nurses there. They are doing a tough job with little recognition.

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Jessica
5/11/2010 11:26:10 pm

Thank you.
Yes, they contribute themselves to taking good care of the patients.
And what's up to you? Health is everying! Be careful.

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Nena
5/15/2010 11:53:19 am

Hi!Brandon! I think this use of English words is quite interesting. My friends and I like the same use of Chinese words. For example,we often say“短信我". :)

Reply
6/17/2012 01:20:25 pm



You should tolerate those opinions with you different people, like this day is better. If you always want to change him, that way you can be a pain. To learn how to do is stand him. You have to learn to tolerate his is.

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