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let alone

 
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tisogai



Joined: 09 Feb 2006
Posts: 196

PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 7:10 am    Post subject: let alone Reply with quote

I need your help on this:

( ) from reading the letter, he didn't open it.

I'm guessing it is supposed to mean that "he didn't read the letter, let alone opening it".

Please fill in the blank. Thanks.
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Mary W. Ng



Joined: 26 Jun 2006
Posts: 261

PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 11:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
( ) from reading the letter, he didn't open it.

"Apart" is the word to use. However, the first phrase does not link with what follows. I'd rewrite the sentence this way: "Apart from opening the letter, he didn't read it."
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Mary W. Ng
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CP



Joined: 12 Jun 2006
Posts: 2875
Location: California

PostPosted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 10:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I would say it is "Far from reading the letter, he didn't [even] open it."

Although "apart" would fit in the rewritten sentence, it won't work in the sentence given: I can't imagine how he could have read the letter without opening it. With "far," it means that not only did he not read the letter, he didn't even open it.
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Mary W. Ng



Joined: 26 Jun 2006
Posts: 261

PostPosted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 8:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

CP, you're right. I missed it.
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