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#2 (permalink) Sat Oct 07, 2006 12:43 pm Absolutely-can’t-change-it: Do you know the longest? |
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. These formations are an old technique, and usually created by the writer on an ad hoc basis; they are seldom found in a dictionary. Feel free to create one yourself, for as long as your breath lasts.
She was a once-in-a-lifetime-and-never-on-Sunday, stand-up-and-holler, all-round-Bible-thumping raise-the-dead preacher from you-know-where-and-you-know-how-come.
...whatever that means... . _________________ Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's |
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Mister Micawber Language Coach
Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 13015
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#3 (permalink) Sat Oct 07, 2006 14:19 pm Absolutely-can’t-change-it: Do you know the longest? |
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. That's quite a read-with-mouth-agape-whilst-trying-to-reserve-some-breath explanation, MM. :lol: . _________________ "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8316 Location: USA
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#4 (permalink) Sat Oct 07, 2006 14:21 pm Absolutely-can’t-change-it: Do you know the longest? |
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Just an expressive technique… Thank you, Mister Micawber.
Sometimes I do it in Russian. Hope, my English-speaking breath lasts ('last breath', sorry for the clumsy pun…) not much briefer than my native one. :)
Thanks, Amy, I'll try it. :) _________________ It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water… |
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Tamara I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 25 May 2006 Posts: 1577 Location: UK
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| Reported speech in the past | Unfilmable novel |