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#2 (permalink) Fri Feb 16, 2007 9:33 am The usage of "what with" |
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Hi Tom,
'What with' introduces another situation, another factor. Take this as an example: What with the problem with his health, his low income and the bad weather, poor Charlie is really fed up. This construction refers to yet another annoying, irritating matter that makes for a difficult situation. It's similar to: And on top of all that we have something else that's gone wrong.
A _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story Present Simple |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 13891 Location: UK
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#3 (permalink) Sat Feb 17, 2007 4:37 am the usage of "what with" |
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Hi Tom
To me, 'what with' is used to introduce a fact or facts which provide a reason or explanation for something else -- similar to 'because of' . Sometimes people just use the word 'with'.
What with the the high cost of living in this area, double income households are the norm.
What with all the screaming and cheering after he won, no one could hear much of his acceptance speech.
It really was a wonderful day what with the radiant sunshine, the picnic in Central Park and the company of good friends.
Amy _________________ "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 Feb 17, 2007 9:53 am the usage of "what with" |
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Hi Tom,
Thought I might add a bit more to the 'what with' use. Often when you want to express the idea that you've been very busy with all sorts of things and you want to explain this as the reason for your delay in doing something, you say:
What with one thing and another I haven't had a moment to sit down and reply to your letter.
Just a thought.
A _________________ English as a Foreign Language You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 13891 Location: UK
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#5 (permalink) Sun Feb 18, 2007 7:36 am the usage of "what with" |
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I am extremely grateful to both of you!
Is my attempt at "with what" OK?
1- With what his illness and other problems, he decided to resign for the job.
2- With what his rudness and inconsideration, she lost her trust in all army personnel.
Do we agree?
Tom |
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Tom I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 2103
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#6 (permalink) Sun Feb 18, 2007 8:43 am the usage of "what with" |
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Hi Tom,
Sorry, no go with either of them. It's a sort of unfinished construction. Half of : With what his illness did to him .....
By the way the word is rudeness.
A _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story Passive Voice |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 13891 Location: UK
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#7 (permalink) Sun Feb 18, 2007 14:47 pm ? |
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Hi Tom
Did you actually intend to reverse the word order (i.e. "with what" instead of "what with") :?:
| Quote: |
| 1- With what his illness and other problems, he decided to resign for the job. This sentence is incorrect. |
What with his illness and other problems, he decided to resign from the job. = OK
| Quote: |
| 2- With what his rudness and inconsideration, she lost her trust in all army personnel. |
This sentence doesn't work either. If you want to use 'with what', you need a completely different sentence structure. In addition, her loss of trust in all army personnel seems too extreme to be explained by just one person's rudeness and inconsideration.
Here are a few examples: - What with his rudeness and inconsideration, it's no wonder she didn't like him. - With his rudeness and inconsideration, he is never able to hold a job very long.
- With what you now know about his his rudeness and inconsideration in dealing with that issue, don't you think he ought to be fired immediately? _________________ "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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#8 (permalink) Sun Feb 18, 2007 18:42 pm the usage of "what with" |
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What a silly billy!!! :shock: :shock:
I meant "what with" in both sentences, and ended up writing "with what". Sorry!
Tom |
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Tom I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 2103
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#9 (permalink) Tue Jun 22, 2010 11:03 am the usage of "what with" |
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I don't agree that "with what" is incorrect expression.I've found a sentence taken from "A year in Provence" by Peter Mayle, in which was said: "With what he thought was tremendous presence of mind,he pulled on to the hard shoulder,stood up on the front seat and urinated into the flames" |
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PredatorTheSkullCollector You can meet me at english-test.net

Joined: 22 Jun 2010 Posts: 63 Location: Bulgaria (currently studying in Denmark)
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#10 (permalink) Tue Jun 22, 2010 11:08 am the usage of "what with" |
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In that sentence of yours, "with what" has nothing to do with "what with". I hope you do realize they are completely different in meaning.
And for the record, nobody said "with what" is an incorrect expression, and in your sentence it is perfectly valid. However, it is by no means interchangeable with "what with". _________________ What do I think of the pie?!
Goodness gracious, its delicious!
That's what I think of the pie! |
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Our Tort System I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 24 May 2010 Posts: 2653 Location: The big apple
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| the type to do something | interrupter vs non-defining relative clause |