0
Taka Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

entertain

My mother doesn't entertain much any longer, because of her health.
Entertain?? What does this 'entertein' mean? 'Think about' or something? And what is this 'much' grammatically? The direct object of 'entertain? Or an adverb to modify the verb 'entertain' in front?
  

Top answer

'doesn't entertain much' = doesn't provide much entertainment Something she might do as hostess, --entertaining guests in her home, for instance, like providing music, games, setting a nice table, and encouraging amusing dinner conversations, etc.

— Davkett

  • 'doesn't entertain much' = doesn't provide much entertainment Something she might do as hostess, --entertaining guests in her home, for instance, like providing music, games, setting a nice table, and encouraging amusing dinner conversations, etc.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

3 Answers
0
'doesn't entertain much' = doesn't provide much entertainment

Something she might do as hostess, --entertaining guests in her home, for instance, like providing music, games, setting a nice table, and encouraging amusing dinner conversations, etc.
0
0
Ah! So it's an intransitive verb, and 'much' in the original sentence is adverbial!

I don't know why I didn't understand it!

Thanks, davkett---as always!
0
0
Or you might take 'much' as 'often': 'she doesn't invite people round very often'.

MrP
0

Related Questions