hello everyone, I'm Italian and I'm at my first year of studying English at University. I had studied English at highschool but definitely not at the same level. Basically our professor destroyed all our knowledge (or at least, what we thought we knew) of English in an hour and a half.
First question she asked, that we have to do some research about for homework. ''He can run faster than I (can)'', ''He can run faster than me''. Both sentences are grammaticaly correct. BUT what's the difference in the function of THAN in the 2 sentences?
And also, what's the difference IN MEANING between some and any? can you say ''Alex likes any beer/Alex likes some beer''? (I guess the answer is YES, but why doesn't it sound right?)
I know these question might sound really stupid for you English native speakers, but we have never been taught grammar this way. it was just a bunch of rules. why this woman, and rightly so I believe, wants to know WHY.
thanks so much in advance.
2007-10-01 07:10:54 · 8 answers · asked by Sylvia 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Let's see...
'Than' in the first sentence is comparing the two rates of running, but in the second sentence it is comparing the two people.
'Any' is similar to 'all'. 'He likes all beer' would have the same meaning as 'he likes any beer'. But 'some' would refer to less than all.
2007-10-01 09:16:13 · answer #1 · answered by Jade <>< 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have heard the same thing from other non-English speaking people: that English is full of "rules", but, I am not aware of any language that doesn't have them! Yet, most non-native English speakers fared better on their knowledge of English grammar than most Americans I know, including me! And, yes, English grammar rules can "drive" someone crazy, with or without a "license"!
I hate doing people's homework, but I'll admit to enjoying playing "teacher", every now and then, so here goes!
For the "than" question, please visit the link, below.
As for the "beer" question:
Saying "Alex likes ANY beer" implies that he'll drink anything, including whatever was concocted in his grandfather's washtub!
Saying "Alex likes SOME beer" implies that he has more discriminating tastes, though not necessarily for the better!
In casual conversation, we would say, "Alex likes beer", without using an adjective.
P.S. "High school" is two words, not one.
2007-10-01 07:45:31 · answer #2 · answered by skaizun 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The problem you have here, is that most 'English' speakers rarely have any real idea about grammatical structure. Even I, who revere the written word, occasionally make a mistake.
If you're learning English for a particular job, you may need to be more 'correct' with you pronunciation & grammar. However, if you require it for another purpose, perfect grammar will probably impede you more than help you.
We are so lazy.
And I must say, you use English beautifully.
THAN is a comparitive term here. It compares he & I.
Some is a smaller term than any, I suppose. And slightly more precise. Alex likes SOME beer, says that he doesn't like them all. Alex likes ANY beer, says he has no discrimination & will drink anything on offer.
Hope this helps you.
Feel free to email me if it is helpful & you would like more help. I LOVE helping. Truly.
2007-10-01 07:28:15 · answer #3 · answered by flossiedots 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
not sure if I am able to answer your question , in the first ques i think there is no difference . Coz "than" used in two above sentences just expresses the comparison , the first one : than + a sentence , the second than + pronoun
Alex likes any beer , sounds like Alex doesnt like beer .
I often use "any" for interogative and negative sentence , and some for affermative sentence
Anyway , you should collect some ideas more coz I am not native either .
2007-10-01 20:12:36 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think 'Flossiedots' wrote very succinctly and explained the use of the words and terms well. May I take this opportunity to say how well you are progressing with your English. If there is one criticism I may be permitted to point out to you, is the use of the word "Basically." I have noticed that a lot of young people now use that word so frequently and so unnecessarily. You said "Basically our professor..etc." I am guessing you use that term quite a bit more frequently than you need to. Try and use a variety of interesting words and learn a new one everyday which you can put into your conversations. Anyway good luck with your English.
2007-10-01 07:51:08 · answer #5 · answered by Dr Paul D 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You have the same question as what i have in mind. I'm not a native speaker just like you.
For me the 2nd and 1st statement are not awkward sounding.
2007-10-01 07:21:54 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
"Morphologically?" He would desire to signify the kind that the verb takes. enable's look at an occasion sentence: have been I a duck, i might fly out right here rapid. have been right here would desire to be comparable to modern-day or previous demanding kind. i will basically think of of "have been you a duck? " it somewhat is previous demanding. or in step with probability he's no longer speaking approximately this in any respect. or in step with probability he potential which you kind all different tenses utilising factors of the present and previous tenses. So somewhat i might say that morphologically is the respond on your question. i think which you had to appreciate a particular morphologically alongside with the form of variations. yet that's no longer what you asked in any respect. you basically desire the form of variations. Or do you like the names of each and all of the tenses and examples of each -- somebody has given you that. i'm thinking there would others which you haven't any longer heard of yet. i will think of of pluperfect.
2016-10-10 02:54:07 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
English Grammar Help Please?
2014-12-06 07:00:05 · answer #8 · answered by SUZANNE 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋