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#17 (permalink) Thu Sep 18, 2008 23:41 pm The use of "much as" |
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| Molly wrote: |
Why would it need to equal anything?
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Indeed. That was rather my point, when I queried:
| Molly wrote: |
It's a synonym of the conjunction although
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"Much/little" have one function in the examples, and "as" another.
We are therefore once again in accord.
MrP |
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MrPedantic I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 13 Oct 2006 Posts: 1326 Location: Southern England
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#18 (permalink) Fri Sep 19, 2008 0:19 am The use of "much as" |
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| MrP wrote: |
| We are therefore once again in accord. |
Hooray! The Cambridge Dictionary, for example, also notes that one of the meanings of "as" is "although". . _________________ "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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#19 (permalink) Fri Sep 19, 2008 8:57 am The use of "much as" |
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"Much/little" have one function in the examples, and "as" another.
See, that's where we differ. You focus on syntatic form and I focus on meaning and lexicalised function, on lexis. With "Get the f*ck away from me!", each word has separate function, but the expression is synoymous with "Leave me alone!", in most contexts. To me, there is no value for ESL students in looking at the function of each word in such expressions , they should instead look at the function of the unit. The expression "much as" is now a lexical item, IMO, and is synoymous with "although" in many people's minds.
Just different ways of looking at the same thing. Hope you can deal with that, MrP. |
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Molly I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 12 Feb 2008 Posts: 4017
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#20 (permalink) Fri Sep 19, 2008 9:00 am The use of "much as" |
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| Quote: |
| The Cambridge Dictionary, for example, also notes that one of the meanings of "as" is "although". |
Correct as you are, what's it got to do with the discussion above? |
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Molly I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 12 Feb 2008 Posts: 4017
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#21 (permalink) Fri Sep 19, 2008 9:02 am The use of "much as" |
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| Quote: |
| We are therefore once again in accord. |
Not if I decide that "big as", "little as", etc. are synoymous with something. |
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Molly I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 12 Feb 2008 Posts: 4017
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#22 (permalink) Fri Sep 19, 2008 11:28 am The use of "much as" |
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Not if I decide that "big as", "little as", etc. are synoymous with something.
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1a. Big as it is, it still isn't quite the right size. 1b. Little as it is, it still isn't quite the right size.
What in your opinion are "big as" and "little as" synonymous with, in those examples?
MrP |
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MrPedantic I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 13 Oct 2006 Posts: 1326 Location: Southern England
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#23 (permalink) Fri Sep 19, 2008 11:37 am The use of "much as" |
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| Quote: |
| What in your opinion are "big as" and "little as" synonymous with, in those examples? |
Does my opinion matter? It seems have only one way of interpreting these language items and you want to teach/prescribe that way to/for all of us. |
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Molly I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 12 Feb 2008 Posts: 4017
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#24 (permalink) Fri Sep 19, 2008 13:24 pm The use of "much as" |
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You've said that we are not in accord, if you decide that "big as" and "little as" are synonymous with something.
What then are "big as" and "little as" synonymous with, in those examples, in your opinion?
MrP |
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MrPedantic I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 13 Oct 2006 Posts: 1326 Location: Southern England
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#25 (permalink) Fri Sep 19, 2008 14:29 pm The use of "much as" |
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Hi ! everybody...
Well, I'm just try to understand how to use 'Although', because that was my question.... but for me became too much complicated to understand... so, I'm a ESL student and when I should use this word I'll permit myself to make a mistake :))
Thanks again...
Gerson |
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#26 (permalink) Fri Sep 19, 2008 14:34 pm The use of "much as" |
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| Quote: |
| What then are "big as" and "little as" synonymous with, in those examples, in your opinion? |
To answer all your questions would be a full-time job. (I should think that asking them all is a full-time job.) |
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Molly I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 12 Feb 2008 Posts: 4017
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#27 (permalink) Fri Sep 19, 2008 14:35 pm The use of "much as" |
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| so, I'm a ESL student and when I should use this word I'll permit myself to make a mistake ) |
In which other places have you looked for help? |
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Molly I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 12 Feb 2008 Posts: 4017
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#28 (permalink) Fri Sep 19, 2008 15:03 pm The use of "much as" |
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| gerson wrote: |
Molly,
I would like to know, how to use Although....
I have observed, when someone use Although, is because wants to introduce a new subject... I'm right ? |
Hi Gerson
The word "although" is generally used in a sentence with two clauses. The word "although" generally comes at the beginning of its clause, and it shows that the idea in its clause is true but that the idea in the other clause also needs to be considered or is also true.
The word "although" joins two ideas, and the ideas in the two clauses often seem contradictory.
- Although I've read his letter five times now, I still don't understand what he meant. - Although he didn't study, he somehow managed to pass the test. - Although he says he will reduce unemployment, he hasn't provided any details about how he would achieve that. . _________________ "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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#29 (permalink) Fri Sep 19, 2008 15:23 pm The use of "much as" |
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| Quote: |
| The word "although" generally comes at the beginning of its clause, and it shows that the idea in its clause is true but that the idea in the other clause also needs to be considered or is also true |
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Wouldn't "and" be more suitable there? |
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Molly I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 12 Feb 2008 Posts: 4017
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Molly I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 12 Feb 2008 Posts: 4017
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