Pending meaning in English
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Definition
pending (a decision): awaiting conclusion or confirmation
The case is still pending.
pending a physical examination
Examples
- "So the position is yours, pending a preliminary interview and background check, but we do not foresee any complications."
Exercise 1
Polly writes that "the job is yours, pending a preliminary interview".
This means that Luna , successful interview.
This means that Luna , successful interview.
Polly writes that "the job is yours, pending a preliminary interview".
This means that Luna will be hired 1, if she has a 2 successful interview.
This means that Luna will be hired 1, if she has a 2 successful interview.
1 will be hired: This is correct. The idiom "the position is yours" expresses that a job has been "offered" or "given".
1 has already been hired: This is not what this idiom expresses. Polly is expressing to Luna that she will be hired, in the future, on the condition that she has a successful interview.
1 owns the job: This is a very literal interpretation of the idiom "the position is yours". In English, we rarely attribute literal "ownership" to a job, although we often use pronouns such as "my, yours, and her" to describe jobs. For example, someone might ask "What's your job here?" but this does not mean "Which job do you own?" but "Which job do you do?".
2 if she has a: This is correct. The term "pending" means "on the condition that" or simply "depending on". Polly has offered the position of Director of Personnel to Luna on the condition that her interview goes well.
2 because of her : This is incorrect. Luna has not yet interviewed for the position at Delavigne. Polly is offering to hire Luna only after she completes a successful interview.
2 unless she has a : This is incorrect. Do not confuse the term "pending" with "unless". Although they are both terms which express conditions, they are very different.
Exercise 2
Which of the following statements most accurately summarizes Polly's letter?
Which of the following statements most accurately summarizes Polly's letter?
Polly has not "fired" the director of personnel, but rather the director has "tendered her resignation". "To tender one's resignation" is to formally step down from a job or resign. Although someone can be asked to resign, there is no firing involved in the act.
Although it is true that Polly has offered Luna the position, it is "on the condition" that Luna has a successful interview. In this context, "pending" shares a similar meaning with "on the condition of or that". Polly requires an interview before giving Luna the job.
This statement is completely false. Polly is offering the position to Luna because the current director of personnel has left the company.
This is correct. Polly first explains that Delavigne's Director of Personnel has "tendered her resignation". Polly then writes that "the position is yours" which expresses that Luna has gotten the job, but only "pending" a successful interview.
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