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I think I'd ditch the adjective and switch the sentence around to a different construction. Legolas Send a noteboard - 23/03/2010 05:33:19 PM
Because words like "potential" and "possible" have cognates in Dutch that we wouldn't really consider as fully equivalent to "eventueel". Probably something with "in case of", or something involving "should" ("Bij eventuele verdere vragen kunt u steeds contact opnemen met X" = "In case of any further questions / Should any further questions arise , you can always contact X" ).

The Dutch/German/Swedish/... way is certainly shorter and more efficient, though. :P


Well, the eytmology is e- "out" + venire "come". So the justification (or, at least, mine) of the English meaning is that the thing will "come out" (or become an "event") one day, even if it takes a long time. What's the Dutch view?

Right, I didn't go quite that far back when I said "etymology" - I was merely thinking about the "event" part. And then I think it's more logical that an adjective derived from that should mean "in the event that", than "future". If you ask me (I may be a tad biased ;) ), the meaning of English "eventual" is much better covered by some word involving cognates of "end", like in Dutch "uiteindelijk" - or indeed English "in the end".



It's a good story regardless :P.


True, doesn't matter so much if it actually happened or not.
This message last edited by Legolas on 23/03/2010 at 05:33:33 PM
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Do you really need to have two different pronunciations of "the"? Lordling - 23/03/2010 02:06:02 PM 1356 Views
Need? No. Rebekah - 23/03/2010 02:17:09 PM 527 Views
I've never heard of that in my life. LiterateDog - 23/03/2010 02:29:37 PM 615 Views
I pronounce it both ways Sareitha Sedai - 23/03/2010 02:35:45 PM 607 Views
It's like "a". LiterateDog - 23/03/2010 02:45:14 PM 698 Views
Oh. I do that too. Sareitha Sedai - 23/03/2010 02:59:20 PM 629 Views
"all intenstive purposes"...*shudder* LadyLorraine - 23/03/2010 02:45:35 PM 582 Views
Yeah, that makes me shudder, too. People are retarded. *NM* LiterateDog - 23/03/2010 02:50:41 PM 312 Views
I have never actually heard anyone say "all intensive purposes". MightyYT - 23/03/2010 05:25:37 PM 582 Views
Or you could be surrounded by smarter people than I am. *NM* Sareitha Sedai - 23/03/2010 05:26:44 PM 224 Views
Really? I'd say most people say it incorrectly and most don't even know... everynametaken - 23/03/2010 09:35:49 PM 601 Views
I do too damookster - 24/03/2010 04:07:56 AM 493 Views
Or irregardless. *shudders* I saw it in the dictionary but really... globug0822 - 26/03/2010 12:03:13 PM 531 Views
You should a a few words Floffe - 26/03/2010 12:42:36 PM 549 Views
What Joe said, almost. Palatine - 23/03/2010 04:51:08 PM 783 Views
Seems to me that only works if you pronounce "history" without the H. *NM* Legolas - 23/03/2010 05:02:29 PM 379 Views
That's my point. I've never heard anyone say it without the "h." *NM* Palatine - 24/03/2010 04:55:35 PM 317 Views
An history Rebekah - 23/03/2010 05:07:08 PM 757 Views
(h)erb. *NM* everynametaken - 23/03/2010 09:37:58 PM 307 Views
I will not use "an." Palatine - 24/03/2010 04:59:00 PM 530 Views
Never heard that one snoopcester - 23/03/2010 05:09:40 PM 566 Views
Heh. Rebekah - 23/03/2010 05:13:17 PM 691 Views
I wasn't using it as that snoopcester - 23/03/2010 05:19:43 PM 524 Views
OK. Rebekah - 23/03/2010 05:25:22 PM 591 Views
It's enough of a rule. Palatine - 24/03/2010 05:02:46 PM 560 Views
Re: Never heard that one ßelals Girl - 23/03/2010 06:14:21 PM 693 Views
I speak mid-west English and have never said an history or ever heard anyone else use it. everynametaken - 23/03/2010 09:38:53 PM 646 Views
I've heard it spoken that way several times--on TV/radio by someone trying to be "serious." *NM* Palatine - 24/03/2010 05:05:48 PM 321 Views
It seems I use them both. Beqi - 23/03/2010 06:05:30 PM 537 Views
I also don't post in the correct place, it seems. Beqi - 23/03/2010 06:36:59 PM 555 Views
One is sufficient. The Shrike - 23/03/2010 02:30:53 PM 754 Views
Is it possible you do it and don't realize it? Avendesora - 23/03/2010 05:11:28 PM 493 Views
I think I do it in many cases, yeah... Legolas - 23/03/2010 05:19:13 PM 618 Views
That's what we were taught in school as well ironclad - 23/03/2010 02:35:29 PM 592 Views
That's what I thought of, too. Joel - 23/03/2010 05:42:14 PM 601 Views
Re: Do you really need to have two different pronunciations of "the"? lyringlas - 23/03/2010 02:46:41 PM 720 Views
As long as you don't say, "should of" 'cos then I must beat you. Joel - 23/03/2010 05:49:09 PM 635 Views
Re: As long as you don't say, "should of" 'cos then I must beat you. lyringlas - 23/03/2010 06:09:27 PM 515 Views
"Should've" versus "should of" Bored - 23/03/2010 06:46:37 PM 611 Views
Sounds like we're on thee same page. Joel - 23/03/2010 06:58:21 PM 667 Views
I tend to use both Isaac - 23/03/2010 10:06:01 PM 590 Views
I think that there are people who pronounce The with that convention LadyLorraine - 23/03/2010 02:47:59 PM 608 Views
Unfortunately you chose two very bad examples. Tim - 23/03/2010 02:48:42 PM 815 Views
British English is weird oO LadyLorraine - 23/03/2010 02:59:49 PM 621 Views
I don't. Tim - 23/03/2010 03:04:22 PM 616 Views
Right Sareitha Sedai - 23/03/2010 03:10:08 PM 592 Views
duly noted LadyLorraine - 23/03/2010 03:10:16 PM 572 Views
I do! Liam - 23/03/2010 10:57:48 PM 595 Views
Shut up, Frenchie! LiterateDog - 23/03/2010 11:03:21 PM 554 Views
Hehe ironclad - 23/03/2010 03:06:31 PM 547 Views
"Park Life!" *NM* Tim - 23/03/2010 03:09:24 PM 233 Views
*NM* ironclad - 23/03/2010 03:10:35 PM 259 Views
Heh, thanks for bringing this up. *NM* Avendesora - 23/03/2010 04:37:07 PM 302 Views
That was my immediate reaction to this post! *NM* Tom - 23/03/2010 05:21:16 PM 352 Views
"y" is a consonant? or the "u" sound Aeryn - 23/03/2010 09:02:57 PM 723 Views
Hopefully this will explain. Tim - 23/03/2010 11:29:58 PM 654 Views
Re: Hopefully this will explain. Aeryn - 25/03/2010 08:40:21 PM 804 Views
I've only just discovered I do it. Liam - 23/03/2010 11:02:18 PM 532 Views
AH! globug0822 - 26/03/2010 11:48:35 AM 509 Views
Whatever the nativespeakers say Sophy - 23/03/2010 05:01:16 PM 580 Views
Do you mean "consistent"? If not, I can't work out what you mean by "consequent". Tim - 23/03/2010 05:05:38 PM 534 Views
I can testify that that one is a terribly annoying false friend in Dutch. And apparently in Swedish. Legolas - 23/03/2010 05:10:03 PM 685 Views
What do people confuse "eventual" with? "Eventful"? Tim - 23/03/2010 05:12:02 PM 541 Views
You never realize even the most obvious of these things in your own language. Sophy - 23/03/2010 05:16:35 PM 609 Views
"Gift" has amused me ever since I started learning German. Joel - 23/03/2010 05:39:48 PM 494 Views
*NM* ironclad - 23/03/2010 07:45:48 PM 277 Views
Oh, it must be an incredibly important word to know when visiting Europe. Sophy - 23/03/2010 08:12:19 PM 604 Views
Even so. Joel - 23/03/2010 08:29:52 PM 589 Views
I wasnt invited! Sophy - 23/03/2010 09:04:16 PM 582 Views
You were so. Joel - 23/03/2010 09:05:58 PM 515 Views
No, I better finish my stupid essay! Sophy - 23/03/2010 09:08:06 PM 583 Views
I can't imagine a world where that could possibly be as rewarding or invigorating as my company. Joel - 23/03/2010 09:11:49 PM 532 Views
Nah, it's not about EFL, it's about Dutch-English false friends. Legolas - 23/03/2010 05:17:28 PM 715 Views
Wait! The English eventual doesnt mean that? Sophy - 23/03/2010 05:21:19 PM 564 Views
English "eventual" means something like "in the end". Legolas - 23/03/2010 05:23:33 PM 562 Views
Whoops! Sophy - 23/03/2010 05:26:05 PM 596 Views
I think the English "eventual" applies to something that is more certain (or assumed) in the future Sareitha Sedai - 23/03/2010 05:25:39 PM 507 Views
LOL what is it with you today?? *NM* ironclad - 23/03/2010 07:57:33 PM 302 Views
You mean that I'm usually brighter? Sophy - 23/03/2010 08:13:04 PM 581 Views
How would you translate eventueel into English? "Potential"? "The possibility of"? Tim - 23/03/2010 05:23:58 PM 658 Views
I think I'd ditch the adjective and switch the sentence around to a different construction. Legolas - 23/03/2010 05:33:19 PM 705 Views
Do you only use it for future? Or all possible things that may or may not be? Camilla - 23/03/2010 10:27:16 PM 586 Views
Dutch is way closer to Norwegian than to Danish. Legolas - 23/03/2010 11:07:51 PM 534 Views
Re: Dutch is way closer to Norwegian than to Danish. Camilla - 23/03/2010 11:09:54 PM 647 Views
*nods* Similar, but not the same, then. Legolas - 23/03/2010 11:12:37 PM 567 Views
Re: *nods* Similar, but not the same, then. Camilla - 23/03/2010 11:22:52 PM 510 Views
Isn't that T an adverbial marker, then? Legolas - 23/03/2010 11:28:01 PM 582 Views
tim might be able to answer that better than me, as he probably understands what you are referringto Camilla - 23/03/2010 11:33:07 PM 524 Views
Re: Isn't that T an adverbial marker, then? Legolas - 23/03/2010 11:39:37 PM 609 Views
Re: Isn't that T an adverbial marker, then? Camilla - 23/03/2010 11:42:29 PM 949 Views
Nah, I know, that's why I said "eventuell" was a bad example - it makes no sense as a predicate. Legolas - 23/03/2010 11:51:06 PM 657 Views
I would come in and lay the smackdown, but unfortunately I have to leave in a few minutes. Tim - 24/03/2010 09:27:28 AM 494 Views
Re: I would come in and lay the smackdown, but unfortunately I have to leave in a few minutes. Camilla - 25/03/2010 12:15:14 PM 604 Views
Ah, that's the right word, yes. Sophy - 23/03/2010 05:10:19 PM 557 Views
konsekvent Camilla - 23/03/2010 06:22:26 PM 566 Views
We need to make a Dutch-Norwegian-Swedish mixture language to replace English, clearly. *NM* Legolas - 23/03/2010 06:27:23 PM 376 Views
Re: We need to make a Dutch-Norwegian-Swedish mixture language to replace English, clearly. Camilla - 23/03/2010 06:28:47 PM 669 Views
This is an excellent point. Legolas - 23/03/2010 08:23:42 PM 462 Views
*clears throat* *NM* ironclad - 23/03/2010 07:58:21 PM 267 Views
Okay, we'll let Austrian join too. Legolas - 23/03/2010 08:00:26 PM 483 Views
Why dilute a perfectly good language with norwegian, dutch and austrian? *NM* jh - 23/03/2010 08:12:40 PM 335 Views
Cool! I'm in! Sophy - 23/03/2010 08:16:32 PM 566 Views
I've no doubt its grammar is awesome... making more sense, that sounds rather less likely. *NM* Legolas - 23/03/2010 08:23:10 PM 331 Views
Don't listen to her ironclad - 23/03/2010 08:24:06 PM 534 Views
Hmpf! Böse Kartoffel! Sophy - 23/03/2010 09:05:37 PM 627 Views
Like Esperanto but with germanic roots? Me likey! *NM* Floffe - 24/03/2010 04:43:59 PM 317 Views
Nopes. nossy - 23/03/2010 05:03:18 PM 555 Views
In my dialect, it's more or less like that Larry - 23/03/2010 05:35:31 PM 489 Views
I don't, but I'm American, and apparently that makes the difference. Joel - 23/03/2010 05:55:10 PM 626 Views
Try it with a bunch of words starting with vowels, then. Legolas - 23/03/2010 05:59:03 PM 527 Views
"thuh" for the first two, seems like "thee" for the rest. Joel - 23/03/2010 06:08:14 PM 630 Views
The (thuh) for all of them. everynametaken - 23/03/2010 09:53:16 PM 554 Views
Thee for all of them *NM* ironclad - 23/03/2010 09:54:58 PM 326 Views
Me too. *NM* Legolas - 23/03/2010 09:59:16 PM 293 Views
Thee for all! o/ Avendesora - 24/03/2010 08:37:23 PM 591 Views
I don't know if we need to, but it would sound silly if we didn't ßelals Girl - 23/03/2010 06:05:53 PM 518 Views
Re: I don't know if we need to, but it would sound silly if we didn't Lordling - 23/03/2010 06:26:30 PM 710 Views
Just go with instinct Rebekah - 23/03/2010 06:29:52 PM 557 Views
Quit while you're behind... Tom - 23/03/2010 08:58:26 PM 579 Views
Unless you like to use archaic English, that is Larry - 23/03/2010 09:20:26 PM 558 Views
I somehow doubt that Lordling - 25/03/2010 08:09:44 PM 701 Views
I like it Camilla - 23/03/2010 06:23:06 PM 571 Views
You sound like him Lordling - 23/03/2010 06:32:09 PM 598 Views
Re: You sound like him Camilla - 23/03/2010 06:33:03 PM 633 Views
Oh!!! That's just the kind of teacher I'm going to be! *NM* Sophy - 23/03/2010 09:06:26 PM 456 Views
Haha good stuff *NM* ironclad - 23/03/2010 09:24:37 PM 298 Views
Never heard of that before. *NM* Wibble - 23/03/2010 08:18:48 PM 218 Views
I do it AgentOrange - 23/03/2010 09:32:04 PM 508 Views
Same here. *NM* Legolas - 23/03/2010 09:33:51 PM 317 Views
Thuh is what most people I know use although I find that more educated people use thee at times. everynametaken - 23/03/2010 09:58:57 PM 547 Views
I have never heard that before in my life. globug0822 - 26/03/2010 11:46:44 AM 723 Views
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