Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[jasonlulu_2000]

Children often do as ______ as what adults, particularly parents and teachers, expect of them. That is, tell a child he is stupid, and he may play the role of a foolish child.

A. much B. well

Children often do as well as what adults, particularly parents and teachers, expect of them. That is, tell a child he is stupid, and he may play the role of a foolish child.

If the second sentence were not there, I might also say:

Children often do as much as what adults, particularly parents and teachers, demand of them.


COULD YOU TELL ME THE DIFFERENCE OF YOUR TWO EXAMPLES? WHY DO "DEMAND" AND " EXPECT" MAKE SUCH A DIFFERENCE?

THANKS.

Jason

[buddhaheart]

I guess simplistically we always �expect� kids to do �well� but �demand� them to do �a lot� and �much�. As you probably know, the two words �expect� and �demand� are different in meaning and tone. Also �well� implies quality whereas �much� implies quantity. Since the 2nd sentence in the question clarifies the quality aspect, �well� is the better answer. Otherwise, as you said, you could easily replace �well� with �much� in the 1st sentence if the 2nd were not there.

[jasonlulu_2000]

Thanks