Can you say
"I saw the look of confusion on Max."
or do you have to say
"I saw the look of confusion on Max's face."
?
Learn English – How to use ” the look of confusion” in a sentence
expression-choiceexpressionsphrase-usagephrasesword-choice
expression-choiceexpressionsphrase-usagephrasesword-choice
Can you say
"I saw the look of confusion on Max."
or do you have to say
"I saw the look of confusion on Max's face."
?
Best Answer
A simpler way of putting it would be "[I noticed that] Max looked confused." It's more direct and, depending on your intent as the author, might serve you better.
Of the choices you offer, however, "I saw the look of confusion on Max's face" is the idiomatic expression. Consider, however, using the indefinite article here. "I saw a look of confusion on Max's face" is more purely descriptive, and is therefore more generic and neutral. "I saw the look . . . ," however, implies that the narrator not only sees the look but plans to deal with it. Unless you, as author, plan to make an issue of Max's look, use the indefinite article by preference.