G
goeunxnam
New Member
Korean
- Sep 10, 2020
- #1
What is the difference between in meanings "I have long hair." and "My hair is long."?
owlman5
Senior Member
Colorado
English-US
- Sep 10, 2020
- #2
goeunxnam said:
What is the difference between in meanings "I have long hair." and "My hair is long."?
The grammar is different, but there is no difference in meaning.
G
goeunxnam
New Member
Korean
- Sep 10, 2020
- #3
owlman5 said:
The grammar is different, but there is no difference in meaning.
but like in context,
when you say 'My hair is long', you might want a hair cut?
rather than saying, 'I have long hair.'(seems that it's talking about normal/usual status)
owlman5
Senior Member
Colorado
English-US
- Sep 10, 2020
- #4
Of course context makes a difference, goeunxnam. If I was talking to a barber, I might say My hair is a little too long. Can you trim it back to the length it was about two months ago?
By themselves, however, My hair is long and I have long hair convey the same information.
G
goeunxnam
New Member
Korean
- Sep 10, 2020
- #5
owlman5 said:
Of course context makes a difference, goeunxnam. If I was talking to a barber, I might say My hair is a little too long. Can you trim it back to the length it was about two months ago?
By themselves, however, My hair is long and I have long hair convey the same information.
I See. Thank you!
dojibear
Senior Member
Fresno CA
English (US - northeast)
- Sep 10, 2020
- #6
goeunxnam said:
when you say 'My hair is long', you might want a hair cut?
You want your hair cut when it is "too long". If you hair is long, but it is the length you prefer, you don't want it cut.
"Long" does not mean "too long". It just describes hair. I have long hair. I have curly hair. I have brown hair.
natkretep
Moderato con anima (English Only)
Singapore
English (Singapore/UK), basic Chinese
- Sep 10, 2020
- #7
I agree they mean the same thing. I would say we'd probably hear 'I have long hair' more often. (I do have long, beyond my shoulders not, and this is what I'd normally say.) This structure draws attention to the notion of 'long hair'. 'My hair is long' often assumes that we've been thinking about hair already, and I'm giving additional information that it is long. It also strikes me as a little literary, and you might see this in a descriptive passage. 'He was very still and peered out of the half-open window. His hair was long and reached halfway down his back. It was swaying in the gentle breeze.'
sinukg
Senior Member
Malayalam
- Sep 10, 2020
- #8
owlman5 said:
Of course context makes a difference, goeunxnam. If I was talking to a barber, I might say My hair is a little too long. Can you trim it back to the length it was about two months ago?
By themselves, however, My hair is long and I have long hair convey the same information.
I would like to ask one question here. Please see your sentence "My hair is a little too long." Here the word "too" gives me a feeling that the hair is "very long." I am a non-native speaker. In our place, we commonly say "My hair is a little long" or "My hair is a little bit long." Please tell me whether these sentences are correct. I would like to get your valuable opinion on this.
owlman5
Senior Member
Colorado
English-US
- Sep 10, 2020
- #9
sinukg said:
In our place, we commonly say "My hair is a little long" or "My hair is a little bit long."
These are also fine, sinukg. Your sentences and mine would all suffice to tell a barber that your hair was longer than you wanted it to be.
sinukg
Senior Member
Malayalam
- Sep 10, 2020
- #10
Thanks a lot.
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