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Gracexie
Joined: 31 Oct 2006
Posts: 9
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 Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 10:10 pm Post subject: it's better to have too much?? |
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- Do you think that 15 kilos will be enough?
- Well, it's better to have too much.
The above sentences are from my students' textbook.
I think 'it's better to have too much' means it's better to have more than enough; but am not sure whether this sentence is appropriate. Is it proper to use 'too much' here?
Thanks a lot! |
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myprofe
Joined: 29 Jun 2004
Posts: 425
Location: Madrid, Spain - Native Boston, USA
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| Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 2:09 am Post subject: |
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Yes, you are correct.
"Too much" is used because the product is assumed to be uncountable.
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I'm never going to learn if you don't correct my mistakes! |
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Anuradha Chepur
Joined: 20 May 2006
Posts: 933
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| Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 2:10 am Post subject: |
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The underlined part seems to be incorrect.
Do you think that 15 kilos will be enough? - is a yes/no question.
Some possible answers are;
Yes, that will be enough.
No, that won't be enough.
No, we will need more.
No, we need more. |
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myprofe
Joined: 29 Jun 2004
Posts: 425
Location: Madrid, Spain - Native Boston, USA
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| Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 2:48 am Post subject: |
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| Anuradha Chepur wrote: |
| The underlined part seems to be incorrect. |
At the supermarket:
Man: Do you think we have enough food for the party?
Woman: It's better to be safe than sorry.
That means the woman wants to get more food. Her answer is similar to "it's better to have too much". She doesn't know if they have enough or not but she prefers to have too much to guarantee that there will be enough.
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I'm never going to learn if you don't correct my mistakes! |
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Anuradha Chepur
Joined: 20 May 2006
Posts: 933
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| Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 2:59 am Post subject: |
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| Yeah, it makes sense. |
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myprofe
Joined: 29 Jun 2004
Posts: 425
Location: Madrid, Spain - Native Boston, USA
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| Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 3:22 am Post subject: A war doesn't decide who's right, only who's left. |
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Has anybody noticed Anuradha Chepur's signature? It's a simple truth and yet a very profound statement.
A war doesn't decide who's right, only who's left.
-
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I'm never going to learn if you don't correct my mistakes! |
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Gracexie
Joined: 31 Oct 2006
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 5:20 pm Post subject: |
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Do you mean the sentence 'it's better to have too much' is proper?
Thanks! |
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Lorikeet
Joined: 08 Oct 2005
Posts: 1877
Location: San Francisco
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| Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 5:35 pm Post subject: |
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| Yes in that context, it's right. |
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Mary W. Ng
Joined: 26 Jun 2006
Posts: 261
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| Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 5:52 pm Post subject: Re: it's better to have too much?? |
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| Quote: |
| Do you mean the sentence 'it's better to have too much' is proper? |
Yes, I think it's an elliptical sentence: 'It's better to have too much (than not enough).'
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Mary W. Ng
Helping students learn grammar
http:www.aimpublishing.com |
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