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Kooyeen Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

Adverb

Hi,

1a - It is difficult to know what that means exactly. <--- I think it's ok, not sure though.
2a - It is difficult to know what that means, exactly.
3a - It is difficult to know what that exactly means.
4a - It is difficult to know exactly what that means. <--- I know it's ok.
5a - It is difficult to know what exactly that means. <--- I know it's ok.

1b - It is difficult to know what that means actually.
2b - It is difficult to know what that means, actually. <--- I know it's ok.
3b - It is difficult to know what that actually means. <--- I think it's ok...
4b - It is difficult to know actually what that means.
5b - It is difficult to know what actually that means.

Comments? Mine are on the right. Those without comment don't sound very good to me. Thank you. Emotion: smile
  

Top answer

1a - It is difficult to know what that means exactly. <--- I think it's ok, not sure though. OK .

— CalifJim

  • 1a - It is difficult to know what that means exactly.
  • <--- I think it's ok, not sure though.
  • OK .
  • 2a - It is difficult to know what that means, exactly.
  • I wouldn't punctuate it this way.
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18 Answers
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1a - It is difficult to know what that means exactly. <--- I think it's ok, not sure though. OK.
2a - It is difficult to know what that means, exactly. I wouldn't punctuate it this way.
3a - It is difficult to know what that exactly means. Awkward. I wouldn't say it.
4a - It is diffi
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Ok, thanks a lot.
Just a little question: you said that you use "what exactly" when you are in a bad mood ("What exactly do you mean by that remark?") But that doesn't mean it is only used when we are in a bad mood, right?
And would these be ok too?
What do you mean by that remark exactly?
What do you mean exactly by that remark?

Thank you.
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No. It doesn't mean you can only use it when you're in a bad mood!
I was just telling you about a personal idiosyncracy of mine to add a little color to my answers! Otherwise these grammar discussions can get pretty boring.
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Yeah, grammar is so boring, but I need to master the basic structures of English if I want to express myself the way I want and... be not too boring. I wish I could just learn automatically by listening to non-boring stuff... but when I have some doubts, I can't always find an example of what I need right away. I'd have wait until I hear or read the sentence or expression I need.

By the
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Hello Kooyeen and CalifJim!Emotion: smile

Does each word has it's order? I say it because..

3a - It is difficult to know what th
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By the way, were those two sentences ok too? They were:
What do you mean by that remark exactly? Sort of OK. IMO, better if set off by vocal pause, as if a comma.
What do you mean exactly by that remark? OK if set off by a vocal pause after exactly, as if a comma.

Be aware that not everyone will agree on these matters.

CJ
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Does each word has it's order? I say it because..

3a - It is difficult to know what that exactly means. Awkward. I wouldn't say it.
3b - It is difficult to know what that actually means. <--- I think it's ok... OK.

..in these two sentences Jim said that the first one sounded weird while the secon
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PuccaWhat about, 'What exactly do you mean by that remark?' ?

That's the form I used in my first response at the beginning of this thread.
It's fine.

CJ
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Thank you, I understand.

Yes Anita, I think that difference is noticeable because those two adverbs are a little different: "exactly" usually goes with objects, "actually" usually goes with verbs. That's way you say...

I want exactly ten different kinds of apples. <-- Good
I exactly want ten different kinds of apples. <-- Not good

I want actually ten different
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Thank you both!Emotion: smile ..I am not sure if I have understood the sentences..
KooyeenI want exactly ten different kin
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