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 #2 (permalink) Tue Sep 16, 2008 20:09 pm The use of "much as" |
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Hi Tom,
This construction gives the idea of 'although I would like to ... I'm afraid it's not possible..' It often acts as an excuse and also as an apology. Take this:
You want to leave somewhere and it is difficult to get away so you can say something like:
It has been a very interesting discussion and much as I'd like to stay longer, I really must make my way home now.
Alan
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| #3 (permalink) Tue Sep 16, 2008 21:10 pm The use of "much as" |
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Hi Tom,
Follow some examples using the MUCH AS forms,,, I just studyed this topic last week
You shouldn't use As MUCH AS with words in plural like this:
- Tom drinks AS MUCH coffe AS his wife.
- Ed spends AS MUCH AS time with his family AS he can
I'm not sure if I help you with this examples, but I learned a lot as much my colleague as learned in class...
[]s |
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 Gerson
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| #4 (permalink) Wed Sep 17, 2008 22:59 pm The use of "much as" |
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1. Much as I would like to be able to explain this structure, I find it rather strange.
I would take "as" here as a conjunctive adverb; it introduces a clause that expresses the degree of something. Its sense is concessive, i.e.
2. Much though I would like to be able to explain this structure, I find it rather strange.
or in its uninverted form:
2. Though I would much like to be able to explain this structure, I find it rather strange.
Best wishes,
MrP |
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MrPedantic
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| #5 (permalink) Wed Sep 17, 2008 23:20 pm The use of "much as" |
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| It's a synonym of the conjunction although Tom. Do you know how to use that conjunction? |
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Molly
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| #6 (permalink) Wed Sep 17, 2008 23:23 pm The use of "much as" |
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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 ?
tks |
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Gerson
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Molly
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| #8 (permalink) Thu Sep 18, 2008 11:39 am The use of "much as" |
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| Molly wrote: |
| It's a synonym of the conjunction although |
To clarify: the phrase "much as" is not a synonym of "although"; though "as" has a similar sense to "though" in the original example.
The structure is:
1. [adjective]/[adverb] as [verb phrase], XYZ.
The first clause is concessive; XYZ presents the mitigation.
e.g.
2. Bad as his analysis may have been, it nonetheless engendered an interesting debate. ["bad" = adj.]
3. Much as I deplore his lack of personal hygiene, he works hard and is a valued member of the Linguistics Dept. ["much" = adverb]
Best wishes,
MrP |
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MrPedantic
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| #9 (permalink) Thu Sep 18, 2008 11:48 am The use of "much as" |
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| Quote: |
| To clarify: the phrase "much as" is not a synonym of "although"; |
I see "(for) much as" as a synonym, and as a unit.
"S: (n) synonym, equivalent word (two words that can be interchanged in a context are said to be synonymous relative to that context)"
http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=synonym
I'd extend "words" to "expressions/lexical items". |
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Molly
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| #10 (permalink) Thu Sep 18, 2008 12:21 pm The use of "much as" |
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You miss the point. My earlier examples #2 and #3 both contain the sense "though"; but only #3 contains "much". The sense "though" therefore resides in "as".
The preceding adjective/adverb merely qualifies the concession.
MrP |
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MrPedantic
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| #11 (permalink) Thu Sep 18, 2008 14:19 pm The use of "much as" |
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| Quote: |
| The sense "though" therefore resides in "as". |
For whom? |
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Molly
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| #12 (permalink) Thu Sep 18, 2008 15:52 pm The use of "much as" |
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For the editors of the OED.
1. Bad as his analysis may be,...
2. Good as his analysis may be,...
3. Little as I like...
4. Much as I like...
If "much" + "as" = "although", what do #1, #2, and #3 equal?
MrP |
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MrPedantic
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| #13 (permalink) Thu Sep 18, 2008 16:55 pm The use of "much as" |
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| Quote: |
| If "much" + "as" = "although", what do #1, #2, and #3 equal? |
Why would they need to equal anything? |
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Molly
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| #14 (permalink) Thu Sep 18, 2008 18:09 pm The use of "much as" |
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3. Little as I like his style, his politics are sound.
4. Much as I like his politics, his style is rather harsh.
If "much as" is a "synonym" of "although", in #4, what is "little as" a synonym of, in #3?
MrP |
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MrPedantic
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| #15 (permalink) Thu Sep 18, 2008 19:53 pm The use of "much as" |
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Hi ! everybody.
tks,... for the explanations about the use of Although and Much as
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| past perfect imperfections | What do you think of a young girl marrys a millionaire? |
