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 #2 (permalink) Sun May 04, 2008 7:15 am clean between our teeth? |
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| I don't think it's a wrong usage 'cause we do use a toothpick to do the cleaning between our (two) teeth usually. |
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Haihao
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| #3 (permalink) Sun May 04, 2008 7:22 am clean between our teeth? |
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Hi Nessie,
I agree with Haihao. After all, our teeth are separate things and it's between the teeth that bacteria can hide.
Alan
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Alan
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| #4 (permalink) Mon May 05, 2008 9:04 am clean between our teeth? |
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Thanks a lot, Alan and Haihao :)
There's another thing I want to ask Alan: why did you say "our teeth are seperate things" and not "our teeth are seperated things", Alan? What's the difference between the 2 usages? :)
Many thanks in advance :)
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 Nessie
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| #5 (permalink) Mon May 05, 2008 9:08 am clean between our teeth? |
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| Try searching the BNC with this between * teeth. |
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Molly
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| #6 (permalink) Mon May 05, 2008 9:34 am clean between our teeth? |
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.
Using between * teeth doesn't seem to work very well on the BNC. Of the 50 results I got, only 2 contained both words (48 of 50 contained only the word teeth). In the two two results containing the word between, the meaning was basically "between upper and lower teeth":
- ... who clasped their head-dresses across their faces and between their teeth...
- ... another fag clamped between his teeth...
BNC: between * teeth
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Yankee
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| #7 (permalink) Mon May 05, 2008 9:56 am clean between our teeth? |
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So... what do I do now? I'm starting to get confused... (+_+)
Besides, what about "seperate things" and "seperated things", Alan?
Many thanks in advance...
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Nessie
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| #8 (permalink) Tue May 06, 2008 17:03 pm clean between our teeth? |
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Sorry but could anybody please give me a clear indication?
Besides, please answer me about that "seperate/ seperated" thing, Alan
Many many thanks
Nessie
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Nessie
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| #9 (permalink) Tue May 06, 2008 17:38 pm clean between our teeth? |
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Hi Nessie,
'Between the teeth' is fine when you mean 'in between' - down one side of one tooth and up the side of another tooth. Stop worrying, please!
Alan
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| #10 (permalink) Tue May 06, 2008 17:48 pm clean between our teeth? |
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Thanks a lot, Alan, and sorry for worrying too much :P
But how about that difference between "seperate things" and "seperated things"? Do they mean completely the same?
Many thanks
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Sorry seems to be the hardest word... |
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Nessie
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| #11 (permalink) Tue May 06, 2008 18:27 pm clean between our teeth? |
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Hi Nessie,
The spelling is 'separate' and 'separated'. The first is a simple adjective and the second is also used to describe the noun but it is made from the past participle. Similarly - complete and completed.
Alan
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| #12 (permalink) Tue May 06, 2008 18:45 pm clean between our teeth? |
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| nessie wrote: |
| But how about that difference between "seperate things" and "seperated things"? Do they mean completely the same? |
No, Nessie, they do not mean exactly the same thing.
"Separated things" means that there used to be sort of real connection between the things (and now there isn't) or that the things have been moved farther apart.
"Separate things" does not suggest that there was a previous connection or that the things have moved apart somehow.
.
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