Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[kerstin]

the advert will often have a reference number,so make sure you have that *handy* when you call.

handy=useful, adj
but it seems like a noun in this case,right?
or what does it mean?

Thank you

[bud]

I think it is an adjective in this sentence, but I could be wrong.

Here, handy means at hand or with you or in front of you. It means that you will have it with you so you can read it to the person you will be speaking with when he/she asks for it.

An example of handy (useful):

A Swiss Army knife has various little tools that come in handy in many situations.

[missdaredevil]

If someone asked me "Do you have Molly's number?" over the phone, and I do have her number written down in a phone book in another room. Can I reply" Yes, I do. But her phone number is not handy to me right now."?

Thanks

[bud]

Yes, but I'd probably use "to have" instead of "to be" - Yes, I do, but I don't have her phone number handy right now.

(But then I'd offer to go get it. )

[iitimone7]

kerstin - the reason this sentence confuses you is because there are words missing. people who speak english every day don't even recognize it, but let me write the end of the sentence again for you...

...so make sure you have that (that=reference number) handy when you call.

does that make sense now? that refers to reference number, so it looks like the word handy takes the noun position in the sentence, when if fact, the word that does.

iitimone7

[missdaredevil]

Thanks a lot for pointing out the mistake. I really appreciate it when I learn more correct usages.