Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[learner1]

Hello,
A:
1.It's not worth waiting for him.
2.It's not worthwhile to wait for him.
3.It's not worthwhile waiting for him.
Are the above three sentences the same or different meaning?

B:
Are the following sentences the same meaning and interchangeable?

1.The book is worth reading.
2. It is worth reading the book.

Thank you in advance

[asterix]

I'd say the first three (A) are interchangeable and mean the same thing.

B. 1. The book is worth reading means to me that the book is has merit of its own. It might be an exciting story, well told, for example.

2. It is worth reading the book means that it might be of value to you to read the book for some other purpose, say a certain English class.
The difference is very subtle.

[learner1]

[Lorikeet]

It means, "for example, a certain English class"