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Chan-Seung Lee
Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Posts: 1032
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 Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 5:35 pm Post subject: Try as hard as he could |
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'Try as hard as he could, he just couldn't throw the ball into the net.'
In the above sentence, I guess 'Try as hard as he could' means 'Although he tried as hard as he could'.
Am I right? If I am right, can you explain why even though 'Try as hard as he could' is imperative mood, it exhibits conjunction or 'although'? In addition, I'd like you to give me another example.
Thanks. |
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pinenut
Joined: 16 Feb 2006
Posts: 165
Location: Illinois, U.S.A.
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| Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 7:07 pm Post subject: Re: Try as hard as he could |
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| Chan-Seung Lee wrote: |
'Try as hard as he could, he just couldn't throw the ball into the net.'
In the above sentence, I guess 'Try as hard as he could' means 'Although he tried as hard as he could'.
Am I right? If I am right, can you explain why even though 'Try as hard as he could' is imperative mood, it exhibits conjunction or 'although'? In addition, I'd like you to give me another example.
Thanks. |
Perhaps, you should rewrite your sentence to make it more in line with grammar:
Trying as hard as he could, he just couldn't throw the ball into the net. |
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Mister Micawber
Joined: 23 Mar 2006
Posts: 774
Location: Yokohama
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| Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 3:02 am Post subject: |
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| Try as hard as he could |
This is one of a small and dwindling group of set phrases using the 'formulaic subjunctive' consisting of the base form of the verb. Others are:
Be that as it may
Come what may
Suffice it to say
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_________________
"I really do not know that anything has ever been more exciting than diagramming sentences." � Gertrude Stein
...............
Canadian-American who teaches English for a living at Mr Micawber's |
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LucentShade
Joined: 30 Dec 2003
Posts: 542
Location: Nebraska, USA
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| Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 3:18 pm Post subject: |
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| I interpret this as meaning, "No matter how hard he tried, he just..." Pinenut, the sentence is grammatical, although as Mister Micawber says, it's not a common structure in modern English. Another similar example that I can think of is "Say what you will, I refuse to work with him" = "No matter what you say, I refuse to work with him." |
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