Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[learner1]

Hello,

'Please make every effort to speak louder so that everyone can hear you.'

Could we use the following expressions instead of 'make every effort here? e.g.

1.'Please spare no effort to speak louder so that everyone can hear you.'
2.'Please leave no stone unturned to speak louder so that everyone can hear you.'
3.'Please try/do your best to speak louder so that everyone can hear you.'
4.'Please do your utmost to speak louder so that everyone can hear you.'
5.'Please do all you can to speak louder so that everyone can hear you.'
6.'Please speak as louder (or 'loud') as you can so that everyone can hear you.'

Thank you very much.

[lotus]

Hi Learner1,

1 and 2 sound awkward.

3, 4 and 5 are passable.

6 is the best (use loud).


--lotus
_________________
War does not make one great --Yoda

[learner1]

Hello lotus,

Thank you very much for your reply.
According to your answer, I wonder why #1 and #2 are not appropriate?
Could you please explain why? Besides, is it fine to use 'make every effort' here?

Thank you very much.

[lotus]

Hi Learner1,

For 1 and 2, the strength and nature of the phrases are incongruous with the intent of the request. Basically, they sound too strong and are mainly used in other types of sentences.

"Spare no xxx" is used to express using every possible means with xxx. A common phrase is "spare no expense."
The couple spared no expense in finding their lost dog.

"Leave no stone unturned" usually expresses an unrelenting search for something.
The detectives left no stone unturned in their investigation to find the lost girl.

Both of these expressions are too strong to use as requests for someone to speak louder. They simply sound awkward in that situation.

"Please make every effort to speak louder" also sounds a little awkward because it doesn't take that much effort to speak louder.

I would stick with number 6. It's the most natural sounding of them all.

Please speak as loud as you can so that everyone can hear you.
Please speak louder so that everyone can hear you.


--lotus
_________________
War does not make one great --Yoda

[learner1]

Hello lotus,

I am very grateful for your kind help. In order to understand the usage of these better, would you please tell me which of these are fine and better in the sentence? e.g.

1.The medical staff did their utmost to save the patient's life.

2.The medical staff spared no effort to save the patient's life.

3.The medical staff made every effort to save the patient's life.

4.The medical staff tried their best to save the patient's life.

5.The medical staff did all they could to save the patient's life.

6.The medical staff tried as hard as they could to save the patient's life.

Do they all have the same meaning in the example?

Thank you very much.

[lotus]

Hi Learner1,

Because of the urgent nature of the circumstance, all the prescribed sentences with their emphatic phrases are appropriate.

Be careful of the sentences though -- 5 and 6 can be construed as failure by the medical staff. 3 and 4 as can also be construed as failure by context. 1 and 2 are by-and-large seen as positive (able to save the patient's life).


--lotus
_________________
War does not make one great --Yoda

[learner1]

Hello lotus,

Thank you very much for your reply.
What does 'positive' mean here? Does it mean they did not fail to save the patient's life? Could the phrases in #3, #4, #5 and #6 like 'make every effort' be construed as failure in other cases liks this?
Could you also please tell me which of these expressions below are very strong, less strong and not strong?

1.The medical staff did their utmost to save the patient's life.

2.The medical staff spared no effort to save the patient's life.

3.The medical staff made every effort to save the patient's life.

4.The medical staff tried their best to save the patient's life.

5.The medical staff did all they could to save the patient's life.

6.The medical staff tried as hard as they could to save the patient's life.

Thank you very much.

[lotus]

Hi Learner1,

Positive means being able to save the patient's life. All the sentences are in the past tense. So, all of them can conceivably be construed as failure depending on context. The probability of interpretation as failure (in order) was noted in the last response. The strength (emphasis) of each sentence depends very much on context and the surrounding circumstances.


--lotus
_________________
War does not make one great --Yoda

[learner1]

Hi lotus,

I think I understand what you are trying to explain.
If someone is very ill, and very weak and it's very hard for him to speak loud, could we use make every effort or spare no effort etc. in such a situation?

Thank you very much for your reply.

[lotus]

Hi Learner1,

In that case, these 5 sentences are the most appropriate (in no particular order).

Please try your best to speak louder so that everyone can hear you.
Please make an effort to speak louder so that everyone can hear you.
Please speak as loud as you can so that everyone can hear you.
Please speak louder so that everyone can hear you.
Can you speak louder so that everyone can hear you?


--lotus
_________________
War does not make one great --Yoda

[learner1]

Hi lotus,

Do 'make an effort' and 'make every effort' have the same meaning? If not, what is the difference? Thank you very much for your help.

[lotus]

Hi Learner1,

"Make every effort" means to try extremely hard or to give every ounce of effort for something. It seems rather unreasonable to ask someone to try that hard to speak louder while they're still sick in bed!

"Make an effort" means you make a concerted effort or a reasonable effort to do something. You're asking the person to try his best to speak louder without hurting himself.


--lotus
_________________
War does not make one great --Yoda

[learner1]

Hello lotus,

Thank you very much for your helpful and great explanation! You have been so helpful, I really appriciate it.

Thanks a lot.

[lotus]

Hi Learner1,

You're welcome.


--lotus
_________________
War does not make one great --Yoda