Foreign Language but I really don't understand the meaning of MAY AS WELL AS in this sentence. Thanks.
"DO YOU THINK THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE IN PRISON FOR LIFE OFTEN THINK THAT THEY MAY AS WELL BE DEAD AS IN PRISON?"
2007-09-30 05:02:53 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
A substitude for may as well is "preferably" which in your sentence can be preferred.
2007-09-30 05:27:09 · answer #1 · answered by CAPTAIN BEAR 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe in this sentence that "may as well" is being used has a comparative term. The writer is asking if being in prison for life and being dead are similar. Essentially the author is asking if being in jail for life and being dead are the same. Is either punishment better than the other?
2007-09-30 12:11:06 · answer #2 · answered by Jessica C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The context states that being in prison for life is the same as being dead. It's a comparative statement of equality.
2007-09-30 12:09:11 · answer #3 · answered by Ancient Brick 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In that context 'may as well as' means that you would be 'better off' dead. (ie - Do you think that people in prison would rather be dead than in prison for life?)
2007-09-30 12:05:26 · answer #4 · answered by megalomaniac 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It asks if you think people in prison for life think "since i am in prison for the rest of my life would it be the same for me if i was dead?" "May as well" basically means something like "equally" or "the same as"
"DO YOU THINK THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE IN PRISON FOR LIFE OFTEN THINK THAT THEY "COULD EQUALLY" BE DEAD AS IN PRISON?" or
"DO YOU THINK THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE IN PRISON FOR LIFE OFTEN THINK THAT "THEY ARE THE SAME" as if they were dead?
2007-09-30 12:09:15 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a comparison in your sentence the speaker compares being in prison for life compares to his having been killed. Life will never be the same.
2007-09-30 12:11:03 · answer #6 · answered by lakelover 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
DO YOU THINK THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE IN PRISON FOR LIFE OFTEN THINK THAT THEY MAY BE DEAD
AS WELL AS IN PRISON.
it means death and prison is same for them.
as well as usually stands for 'and'.
2007-09-30 14:24:11 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They might as well be dead would be better
2007-09-30 12:52:37 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it means that if you are on death row you just should be dead because its the same thing
2007-09-30 12:05:42 · answer #9 · answered by Jose 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋