Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[sejpdw]

" Here is a famous riddle. A cowboy had twelve cows. All but nine died. How many cows did he have left? The answer is nine. The phrase 'all but will always tell you how many of something left. Usually, though, 'all but' suggests that what remains is only a small part of the original number or amount! "

1. I understand "Nine" is the answer. But why is this a funny riddle?
2. What's the role of "left" in "how many of something left"?
I think "how many of something is left" is right.

1) verb(intransitive)
- (As I know, it's not used in intranstivie verb in this way)
2) past participle or adjective

[ESL-ish]

This is a typical elementary school joke.
Young students often become accustomed to being asked math questions that require them to do calculations. (I have 13 apples and give 5 to Jimmy. How many do I have left?).
The joke is funny because the answer is obvious but you have to listen carefully. The kid who always answers the teacher before the question is finished will get it wrong, because he/she will assume that the answer is 12-9=3.

2. In this case "left" means "remain". It is a verb being used in the passive voice.
Only seven dollars were left by the thievesin my bank account.
The thieves stole all but seven dollars from my bank account.

You can use it like this in the active voice, and see that is it transitive:
I left my keys at work.
My keys were left at work.
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