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Pronoun

 
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BMO



Joined: 19 Feb 2004
Posts: 705

PostPosted: Wed May 25, 2005 9:48 pm    Post subject: Pronoun Reply with quote

He hoped with all his might that maybe his friend was finally able to...


Is "his might" referring to HE or HIS FRIEND?

Thanks.

bmo
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Bob S.



Joined: 29 Apr 2004
Posts: 1767
Location: So. Cal

PostPosted: Thu May 26, 2005 9:21 am    Post subject: Re: Pronoun Reply with quote

BMO wrote:
He hoped with all his might that maybe his friend was finally able to...

Is "his might" referring to HE or HIS FRIEND?

No. "Might" in this case means "strength" (internal strength of will power for this instance).
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BMO



Joined: 19 Feb 2004
Posts: 705

PostPosted: Thu May 26, 2005 2:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sorry. The question should be his might or his friend's might.
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bud



Joined: 09 Mar 2003
Posts: 2111
Location: New Jersey, US

PostPosted: Fri May 27, 2005 12:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

"His might" refers to "he," not to "his friend."
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BMO



Joined: 19 Feb 2004
Posts: 705

PostPosted: Fri May 27, 2005 1:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

bud wrote:
"His might" refers to "he," not to "his friend."


Thanks.

How about this:

He hoped with all her might that maybe his friend was finally able to...

Is the above correct grammar-wise? If so, this time the "might" is referring to his friend's (who is a she.")

bmo
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bud



Joined: 09 Mar 2003
Posts: 2111
Location: New Jersey, US

PostPosted: Fri May 27, 2005 2:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

No, because he can't hope with her strength. It would be like saying that he walked all the way home on her tired legs. Does it help to know that to hope with all one might is an idiom? It means to hope furiously.
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