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HiCan you help?1. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. What is the meaning of want here?2. I want to know whether she likes me or not.  Is 'or not' necessary here?3. She helps the poor, so does her niece. Is 'so' an adverb here?4. Recently I learnt in the forums that "May I know.....?" is not good English.How and when can we use 'may' to seek permission or make a polite request?

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Can you help?
1. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. What is the meaning of want here? It means that I will have everything that I need. I will not lack the necessities.

2. I want to know whether she likes me or not. Is 'or not' necessary here? No. It's not.
3. She helps the poor, so does her niece. Is 'so' an adverb here? No, it's a coordinating conjunction.
4. Recently I learnt in the forums that "May I know..?" is not good English.
How and when can we use 'may' to seek permission or make a polite request?

You don't need anybody's permission to know something.

You can ask: May I ask a question? I'd like to know... .. Can you help me?

Vsuresh · Answer

Thank you very much, AlpheccaStars.

Vsuresh · Answer

Thank you very much, AlpheccaStars.

CalifJim · Answer

vsureshShe helps the poor, so does her niece. Is 'so' an adverb here?

From the examples in Merriam-Webster, I'd say yes, it's an adverb. (Sorry to disagree, Alphecca.

)

so - adverb

in the same manner or way : also <worked hard and so did she>

so - conjunction

for that reason : therefore <I don't want to go, so I won't>

CJ

Vsuresh · Answer

Hi CalifJim

I did think 'so' was an adverb in "She helps the poor, so does her niece", but I was not certain about it.

Thank you

BarbaraPA · Answer

She helps the poor, so does her niece.

I would consider this to be a comma splice and an incorrect sentence.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

vsureshHi CalifJim
I did think 'so' was an adverb in "She helps the poor, so does her niece", but I was not certain about it.

Thank you

I read the sentence too quickly and made a rash judgement.

Since there are two clauses with a comma between them, so fits the structural pattern of a conjunction but it has the meaning of an adverb (in addition, too). So, I propose that it is an adverbial conjunction rather than a coordinating conjunction. The clause (so does her niece..) is dependent.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

I agree with GG. Incorrect.

Clive

AlpheccaStars · Answer

CliveHi,

I agree with GG. Incorrect.

Clive

Then it should be written:

She helps the poor, and so does her niece.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Yes.

Or

She helps the poor. So does her niece.

Clive

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