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Angliholic Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

but only in very small amounts

0It's true that soda contains acids, but only01b00 in very small amounts02b00.02br
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00Hi,02br
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00Is "in" in the above optional? If not, what does it refer to? Thanks.0-
  

Top answer

0 "In" here serves to push the sentence past the idea that "there is acid in soda" and towards the manufacturing process itself, without actually referring to it. I'm not sure how to express myself any better here. " 0-

— Delmobile

  • 0 "In" here serves to push the sentence past the idea that "there is acid in soda" and towards the manufacturing process itself, without actually referring to it.
  • I'm not sure how to express myself any better here.
  • " 0-
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5 Answers
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0 "In" here serves to push the sentence past the idea that "there is acid in soda" and towards the manufacturing process itself, without actually referring to it. I'm not sure how to express myself any better here. "Soda contains acid, in small amounts" is less precise and more general than simply "Soda contains small amounts of acid." 0-
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0This seems like a use of "in" we don't often hear discussed -02br
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01i00Fill out these forms in triplicate.02i02br
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01i00She went to the party in disguise.02i02br
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01i00Add the acid in small increments.02i02br
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01i00He acted in the manner of a small
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0Avangi, I think you're exactly right - "only in small amounts" modifies "contains," while "only small amounts" modifies "acid." But I am not a certified teacher, linguist, or grammarian, so my opinion may not count for much. 0-
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0Thanks, Delmobile. It counts with me.0-
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0I see it the same way. "Coca Cola contains small amount of surfuric acid" does not need a prep "in". In fact it would be incorrect. On the other hand, The Coca Cola recipe contains sulfuric acid01font01b00 02b00but01b00 in02b02font00 very small amount. 02br
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00Goodman0-
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