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Debpriya De Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

As we know it

What is the meaning of the sentence "The world as we know it is coming to an end." ?
Does it mean that the world in the form in which we know it is coming to an end or does it simply mean that the world just as we already know is coming to an end ?
  

Top answer

Debpriya De Does it mean that the world in the form in which we know it is coming to an end or does it simply mean that the world just as we already know is coming to an end ? It means the first paraphrase. To mean the second paraphrase, it would be written like this: The world, as we know, is coming to an end.

— CalifJim

  • Debpriya De Does it mean that the world in the form in which we know it is coming to an end or does it simply mean that the world just as we already know is coming to an end ?
  • It means the first paraphrase.
  • To mean the second paraphrase, it would be written like this: The world, as we know, is coming to an end.
  • Either way, it's pretty much true in my opinion.
  • CJ
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3 Answers
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Debpriya DeDoes it mean that the world in the form in which we know it is coming to an end or does it simply mean that the world just as we already know is coming to an end ?
It means the first paraphrase. To mean the second paraphrase, it would be written like this:

The world, as we know, is coming to an end.

Either way, it's pretty much tr
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What if we write omit the "it" and write "The world as we know is coming to an end" ?
Will the meaning change ?
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Debpriya DeWill the meaning change ?
I guess you could say that the meaning changes when you write that. But "changes" isn't the right word. The meaning more or less disappears, I'd say. The version without "it" is just puzzling unless you put those commas in there.

CJ
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