Far / far away

Hi,

I can't work out why it sounds wrong to say "When he saw her, she was very far". Given that "far" is an adjective, why do you have to say "she was very far away"?

I wouldn't say 'she was far' is wrong. I'd say we prefer not to say that, ie it's not idiomatic.



Best wishes, Clive

This is what my dictionary says, but I'm not sure if it's true.

Far is used mainly in questions and negative sentences. In other kinds of sentences use a long way away: The airport is quite a long way away (NOT is quite far).

Isn't it possible to use "far" in affirmative sentences? Not even if you add some modifier?

EDIT: I just realized that you

Hi,

You can certainly say this.

She was standing far away from the bomb when it exploded.

I haven't looked at Swan on this topic, but I imagine he is saying that we usually don't say

She was standing far away from the bomb when it exploded.

In other words, the point at issue is the use of 'far' by itself.

You need either "from X" or "away." Otherwise, it's like saying, When I saw her, she was several miles. At least, that's the way it would be taken.

"Distant" is only a little better. "When I saw her, she was still quite distant." It's certainly correct, but it's unnatural. It might be taken to mean she was spaced out.

She was still [at] a good distance from th

Ok, I see. I knew that was a weird rule, lol.
Thanks!

Clive I haven't looked at Swan on this topic, but I imagine he is saying that we usually don't say
She was standing far away from the bomb when it exploded. Don't you find "from" sufficient here, Clive - as in "Far From the Madding Crowd'? Is this considered old fashioned?