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Jesusengland Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

Could I interrupt / Could I just interrupt a minute?

0Hello.02br
02br
00What is the difference between these sentences?02br
02br
00- Could I interrupt a minute?02br
02br
00- Could I 01font00just 02font00 interrupt a minute?02br
02br
00Thanks.0-
  

Top answer

0 "Just" is used here as an adverb, modifying 'interrupt'; my American Heritage Dictionary offers no definition that fits here. However, I have heard this word creepiing into people's speech very often recently. 02br 02br 00To answer your question: in my opinion, 'just' in incorrectly used here.

— Philip

  • 0 "Just" is used here as an adverb, modifying 'interrupt'; my American Heritage Dictionary offers no definition that fits here.
  • However, I have heard this word creepiing into people's speech very often recently.
  • 02br 02br 00To answer your question: in my opinion, 'just' in incorrectly used here.
  • 0-
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4 Answers
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0 "Just" is used here as an adverb, modifying 'interrupt'; my American Heritage Dictionary offers no definition that fits here. However, I have heard this word creepiing into people's speech very often recently. I'm not sure what these people are trying to communicate when doing so.02br
02br
00To answer your question: in my opinion, 'just' in incorrectly used here. 0-
0
0
0I share the same idea with Philip that "just" could not stand there in the sentence. However, with regards to the question, I think the speaker wants to assure that he/she will interupt someone in a very very short time when he/she adds the word "just". He/she may think that person will feel more ease to talk with him/her when he/she does so. It's just my opinion.0-
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0 01blockquote
01cite10Jesusengland12cite10What is the difference between these sentences?12br
12br
10- Could I interrupt a minute?12br
12br
10- Could I 11font10just 12font10 interrupt a minute?12br
12blockquote
10 Various interpretations
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0
0If you really want to use 01i00just02i00, I'd say:02br
01i00Could I interrupt01b00 just02b00 a minute? 02i00(intensifier: 01b00only02b00; interrupt only for the duration of a minute, not more)01i02br
02i0-
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