Asker: Jonathan, age 12
Answer
Dear Jonathan
Both proverbs and sayings express a certain wisdom of life. While proverbs do this in a concise and unchanging form, sayings can change slightly. For example, ‘The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree’ is a proverb, but ‘give it up’ is a saying. In the latter case, both the subject and the verb can change form: ‘I give up’, ‘You give up’, ‘You will give up’, etc. I hope you have a You are a good student and will not give up too quickly. If you look a bit like your mom or dad in that way, then the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree…
Answered by
Dr. Sofie De Jonckheere
Dutch literature, with specific attention to children’s and youth literature
Catholic University of Vives
Doorniksesteenweg 145 8500 Kortrijk
http://www.vives.be
Doorniksesteenweg 145 8500 Kortrijk
http://www.vives.be
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