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#17 (permalink) Thu Sep 22, 2011 10:32 am It was my pleasure |
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Thank you, MM and Alan, Probably, I can understand your explanations. But I have another question. If I hear "this last week" at a Saturday night, is it correct to view "this last week" as the present week, which is about to pass by?
Justin |
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Justin_Huang I'm here quite often ;-)

Joined: 31 Aug 2011 Posts: 316 Location: Taiwan (ROC)
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#18 (permalink) Thu Sep 22, 2011 13:58 pm It was my pleasure |
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I would. It is not a matter of 'what is correct', however, but what is understood by the listener. _________________ Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's |
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Mister Micawber Language Coach
Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 13014
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#19 (permalink) Fri Sep 23, 2011 0:29 am It was my pleasure |
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| Mister Micawber wrote: |
| 'This' is a kind of clarifier. Demonstrative adjectives point to something outside the language context, and 'this' points to something nearby. With 'this last week', we make it clear that we mean the week that has just passed (perhaps because the day of the utterance is Sunday, for instance) because the listener might be unsure which week was being spoken of. 'This' also tends to emphasize the boundaries of the week, as if it were slightly special in some way. In this case, the other person did something good. |
Dear all,
Thank you for clarifying my doubt.
For me it sounded odd, but now I know that it is OK and meant to emphasise.
Another case of commonly misunderstood use is the auxiliary verb "do" in affirmative sentences.
"I do like coffee" is used when other people doubt it, and to emphasise that you actually do -- you accompany the sentence with "do" as in the example given.
Kind regards,
The Proudest Grandfather : - ) |
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The Proudest Grandfather New Member

Joined: 18 May 2011 Posts: 7
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#20 (permalink) Fri Sep 23, 2011 0:35 am It was my pleasure |
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Thank you for clarifying my doubt.-- Do you mean that you doubt more or doubt less now?
Thank you for confirming my doubt = I doubt more now. Thank you for clearing my doubt = I doubt less now. _________________ Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's |
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Mister Micawber Language Coach
Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 13014
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#21 (permalink) Fri Sep 23, 2011 0:40 am It was my pleasure |
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Dear Mr Micawber,
I meant "Thank you for clearing my doubt" ; - )
Kind regards,
TPG |
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The Proudest Grandfather New Member

Joined: 18 May 2011 Posts: 7
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| How do we use "just"? | Does your cat purr? |