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Ever: Less than half; More than half; Most people



 
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ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
"those" or "the ones"? | Phrase: "Catch up with the watchrooms."
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Ever: Less than half; More than half; Most people #1 (permalink) Tue Sep 04, 2007 4:56 am   Ever: Less than half; More than half; Most people
 

(1) Less than half of the people think an earthquake will ever occur within this decade.

(2) More than half of the people think an earthquake will ever occur within this decade.

(3) Most people think an earthquake will ever occur within this decade.

Could you tell me which sentence are unnatural?
Guinevere
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Joined: 02 Aug 2007
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Ever: Less than half; More than half; Most people #2 (permalink) Tue Sep 04, 2007 13:21 pm   Ever: Less than half; More than half; Most people
 

.
I don't think I'd use sentence (2) or (3). To me, the word 'ever' is inappropriate in both of those sentences and should either simply be removed or '(at) some time' (e.g.) could be used in these sentences instead.
.
Yankee
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Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8265
Location: USA

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Ever: Less than half; More than half; Most people #3 (permalink) Tue Sep 04, 2007 13:58 pm   Ever: Less than half; More than half; Most people
 

Hi, Amy

I think maybe if we negate sentence 3, the use of "ever" will be justified ?

Most of people don't think an earthquake will ever occur within this decade

What do you think?
Lost_Soul
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Ever: Less than half; More than half; Most people #4 (permalink) Tue Sep 04, 2007 14:08 pm   Ever: Less than half; More than half; Most people
 

Hi Alex

Yes, with that sort of negation in sentences 2 and 3, the word 'ever' would work.
.
Yankee
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Joined: 16 Apr 2006
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Ever: Less than half; More than half; Most people #5 (permalink) Thu Sep 06, 2007 7:45 am   Ever: Less than half; More than half; Most people
 

Thanks Amy!

(2) More than half of the people think an earthquake will ever occur within this decade.

What if we add "slightly" in (2), like this:

(4) Slightly more than half of the people think an earthquake will ever occur within this decade.
Guinevere
I'm new here and I like it ;-)


Joined: 02 Aug 2007
Posts: 29

Ever: Less than half; More than half; Most people #6 (permalink) Thu Sep 06, 2007 13:55 pm   Ever: Less than half; More than half; Most people
 

Hi Guinevere

No, adding the word 'slightly' doesn't change anything for me. You would need a word that has a more negative sense. Possibly this, for example:

(5) Only slightly more than half of the people think an earthquake will ever occur within this decade.
.
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8265
Location: USA

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"those" or "the ones"? | Phrase: "Catch up with the watchrooms."
ESL Forum | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms Ever: Less than half; More than half; Most people All times are GMT + 1 Hour
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