Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[syoshioka99]

When Jennie was at school with me, she was one of those well-behaved and intelligent girls who were, and maybe still are, popular with everyone in Scottish schools. The popularity of boys and girls in English schools so far as I gather, goes by other, less easily definable qualities, and also by their prowess at games. However, it was not so with us, and although Jennie was not much use at hockey, she was good and quiet and clever, and we all liked her.

(question1) could you restate the sentence" The popularity of boys and girls in English schools so far as I gather, goes by other, less easily definable qualities, and also by their prowess at games."

(question2) Regarding "other, less easily definable qualities"
a. what does "other" refer to? Is it an ajdective or a noun?
b. what do they mean by "less easily definable qualities"? I mean, less easiy than WHAT??? (My guess is "well-balanced and intelligent.")

(question3) Regarding the 3rd sentence,
a. what does "it" refer to? (my guess is 'the popularity.")
b. what does "so" refer to? (my guess is that the popularity... goes by other, less easily definable qualities, and also by their prowess at games.)

Satoru

Tochigi, Japan

[pugachevV]

1. Yes, you can say it like that.

2. Other is an adjective and it modifies, less easily defined qualities.

3. They mean, less easily defined than "well-behaved and intelligent"

4. it was not so means that her group did not define popularity like that, and so indirectly it does refer to popularity and so means "like that".

[syoshioka99]

[pugachevV]

Popularity in English schools depends on other, less easily defined qualities, and on prowess at games.

You can restate the sentence like that.

Other in the original sentence, means, different.

[syoshioka99]

pugachevV, thank you!

satoru