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after marriage

 
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learner1



Joined: 10 Mar 2007
Posts: 333
PostPosted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 11:23 am    Post subject: after marriage Reply with quote
Hello,

"She wants to be a houswife after marriage."

Is the sentence correct?
Does 'after marriage' mean 'after getting married' here?

Thank you very much
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Bob S.



Joined: 29 Apr 2004
Posts: 1767
Location: So. Cal
PostPosted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 8:53 am    Post subject: Re: after marriage Reply with quote
learner1 wrote:
"She wants to be a housewife after marriage."

Is the sentence correct?
Does 'after marriage' mean 'after getting married' here?
It is not technically correct, but you are right. In colloquial English, it is understood to mean "after getting married".
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learner1



Joined: 10 Mar 2007
Posts: 333
PostPosted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 12:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hello Bob S.,

Thank you very much for your reply. What do you mean by 'It is not technically correct"? Do you mean it is not correct at all?

Thanks.
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Bob S.



Joined: 29 Apr 2004
Posts: 1767
Location: So. Cal
PostPosted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 8:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
learner1 wrote:
What do you mean by 'It is not technically correct"?
Marriage is a legal bonding relationship. So, strictly speaking, after your marriage would begin when you get divorced and the marriage is finished. Think about it in any other context. "We are going drinking after work." Obviously it is understood that we are not having alcohol during our work time. It is understood that the drinking begins when the work is finished and we leave the office/factory/whatever.

So in a strict literal technical understanding of the grammar, "She wants to be a housewife after marriage" would mean she wants to be a housewife after she gets divorced from her marriage or her husband dies. But that doesn't make sense. (She would have to get a job after her divorce!) So, in spite of the confusing grammar, it is commonly understood that she wants to be a housewife during her marriage, or after getting married, like you said.
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learner1



Joined: 10 Mar 2007
Posts: 333
PostPosted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 9:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hello Bob S.,

I really appreciate your helpful explanation which helps me clear it up.

Thanks.
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