Does however here mean we need a new sentence?

Question

Your email prompted me to bring it up, reluctantly.

Can we say that relunctantly modifies 'to bring it up'

having asked that, do you accept any of these?

I feel the introduction of 'however' means we need to create a new sentence after 'up' for reasons I cannot understand.

Your email prompted me to bring it up, reluctantly, however as I was praying it had been approved already.

Your email prompted me to bring it up, reluctantly as I was praying it had been approved already.

Your email prompted me to bring it up, reluctantly, as I was praying it had been approved already.

JohnParis · Accepted Answer

I was reluctant to bring it up, but your email prompted me to do so.

What do you think of this sentence?

John

English 1b3 · Answer

That sentence is fine. Sorry, I'm trying to understand what makes the sentences I wrote wrong or right, and not trying to find the correct way to write it.

Dave_anon · Answer

Hi

You are right to say that "reluctantly" modifies the first part of your sentence - it modifies "to bring it up"

It is almost an idiom - which I think is what John is getting at. Sometimes we want to say: "I really didn't want to have to talk about this but it looks like I will have to."

- I have to bring this up, reluctantly..

- I'm reluctant to bring this up, but..

Your punctuation needs to make it clear that "reluctantly" belongs to the first part of the sentence. Or, if you wish, you can emphasise it by putting commas on either side. But your second example doesn't really work because "reluctantly" has become attached to the second part of the sentence where it does not belong

I think I would always use a full stop before "however". It is a word that shows that you have thought about what you are saying and have taken a pause for breath

The phrase "however as" does not seem quite right. I'd say: use the full stop; or you could use a colon without "however" (which also shows that you have taken thought, and come to a conclusion)

I also think you could use "because" to show why you are reluctant - but you would need to change the punctuation. I would use the dash, but other teachers might disagree

So that gives us four examples which I think are natural..

- Your email prompted me to bring it up, reluctantly. However, I was praying it had been approved already.

- Your email prompted me to bring it up, reluctantly: I was praying it had been approved already.

- Your email prompted me to bring it up - reluctantly - because I was praying it had been approved already.

And your third example - where you are emphasising your reluctance - was fine..

- Your email prompted me to bring it up, reluctantly, as I was praying it had been approved already.

Hope this may help, Dave

English 1b3 · Answer

Hi,

I think you have misunderstood the sentence's meaning.

reluctant needs to be attached to however.

I was reluctant however.

Dave_anon · Answer

Hi

You can attach "however", as an adverb, to "reluctant"

It then means: I was reluctant but whatever happens next will happen..

- However reluctant I may have been, the Senior Manager has agreed your leave

- I'll have problems with you being away next week, but however reluctant I may have been, the Senior Manager has agreed your leave

Do get back if this isn't the meaning you need, Dave

Does however here mean we need a new sentence?

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