Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[hela]

Dear teachers,
Would you please answers my queries?

1) He must have been completely sober, as he had drunk so
Little alcohol.

(How to justify the use of so here, is it possible to use very for example?)

2) It was a rather / fairly good result but you could've done better.

3) We had a rather / fairly nice meal last night.

(which one is best and why?)

What�s the difference please between �fairly, quite and rather�?

4) She only had a few things to collect and she didn't have much time to that. There was little doubt the journey would be difficult. So, to be on the safe side she should have taken as much advice as possible. (Correct ?)

Kind regards,
Hela

[bud]

1. Yes, you could use "very" to say just about the same thing. I think, though, that "so" is more emphatic in that sentence. The sentence with "very" seems more clinical or objective, while with "so" it expresses disbelief (subjectivity) that he could have been drunk.

2-3. Either is fine. (Perhaps "rather" is more British while "fairly" is more American, but I'm not sure about that.)

fairly = quite = rather (synonyms)

4. Your intensifiers are correct. I don't like "much time to that." I think "for" is much better. Also, there should be a comma after "on the safe side."

[hela]

Dear Bud,

1) In fact to keep "so" in the first sentence maybe we should rewrite the sentence because I don't see the "surprise effect" as it is. On the one hand we have "completely sober" and on the other "so little alcohol".

Shouldn't the contrast be between "completely drunk (or another similar expression perhaps) and "so little alcohol" ? Would you have a better sentence for me then?

2) As for the sentence with "meal" do you normally say "have a NICE meal" or "have a GOOD meal" ?

Thank you for your help and I hope I'm not bothering you too much...
Hela

[bud]

1. I don't understand your point, Hela... "So little alcohol" is emphatically reinforcing "completely sober," not contradicting it. I think the sentence is effective as written.

He must have been completely sober, as he had drunk so
little alcohol. = He couldn't have been the least bit tipsy as he had drunk virtually no alcohol.

He must have been completely sober, as he had drunk very
little alcohol. = He couldn't have been tipsy as he had drunk virtually no alcohol.

The above is how I interpret the two variations. With "so," it seems a little more emphatic to me.

2. Those are both natural. Another is "Enjoy your meal!"

[hela]

Thanks Bud,

For the last point what I meant is if it's possible to say "we had a fairly / a rather / quite a NICE meal yesterday" instead of ".... a GOOD meal yesterday". Of course each intensifier wouldn't mean exactly the same thing.

Best wishes

[bud]

Yes, all of those are fine.

[hela]

Thanks

[clonc]

Gawd!

[hela]

Dear teachers,

1) Passing my driving test was so good a feeling that � (is this construction correct ? If yes, how can I complete the sentence, please?)

2) We had a rather good meal even though the restaurant is not that popular. (correct ? Have you got a better sentence perhaps?)

Best wishes

[pugachevV]

1.) Is correct. You could complete it with ....I laughed out loud and hugged the examiner!

2. Is fine. It is perfectly clear what you mean. You could change the word order and so on, but there is no need to do so.

[hela]

Thanks Pugachev.