having a lot of money

Question

I'd like you to help me with these sentences:

1. Having a lot of money is something I'd be worried/excited/anxious about.

Are all the choices correct? If they are, the phrase "having a lot of money" must have different meanings.

2. We are watching a football match on TV tonight. Correct?

3. I am (the) happiest when I am with my friends. I am happier when i am with my friends. Are all the ways correct? Thanks for your help.

BarbaraPA · Accepted Answer

Anonymous
I'd like you to help me with these sentences:

1. Having a lot of money is something I'd be worried/excited/anxious about.

Are all the choices correct? If they are, the phrase "having a lot of money" must have different meanings.

2. We are watching a football match on TV tonight. Correct?

3. I am (the) happiest when I am with my friends. I am happier when i am with my friends. Are all the ways correct? Thanks for your help.

1 - All could be correct. It's possible that people might think that if they had a lot of money, people would try to steal it, or bother them, or they'd make bad choices, or something else that could make them worried or anxious. I'd like to find out myself, of course, but for now, I'm assuming I'd be excited.

2 - Yes.

3 - I am happier when I am with my friends. Happier than what? This is okay, but sounds like it was in response to a question. The first one (happiest) stands by itself just fine.

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you, Grammar Geek.

If I rewrite 1- to "I am worried/excited/anxious about having a lot of money", is "having a lot of money" a fact? The speaker is rich, and he is worried/excited/anxious about the fact, the reasons for worrying, being anxious and be excited are like those you gave in your explanation.

Is it possible in the rewritten sentence that "having a lot of money" is a perspective or a goal? The speaker is not rich, but he is excited at the idea of "having a lot of money'; the speaker longs for money, he has to work hard for it, which has made him anxious; he has to make a lot of money, which needs a lot of effort and he may not be able to make a lot of money, this situation has made him worried.

I have another question: If i lived abroad, the friends would be something/someone/somebody I would be worried about. I don't know which should be used after people words, "something", "something"? Thank you very much.

BarbaraPA · Answer

If you say "I am worried about having a lot of money," either you DO have it now, or it will be happening very, very soon - you have won the lottery and your first check is coming soon.

If you wish to say that it's a goal, say something like "I'm excited about the prospect of having a lot of money" (which is why I'm looking for elderly millionaires to marry) (which is why I'm studying medicine) (something to show why that prospect is likely for you). If he's worried about his current state, then I think you need to have him say "I'm worried about not having enough/very much money."

In your other question, I don't think you're worried about the friends as people (would they get sick? would they be okay?), but about the idea of whether you would have friends, so it's something (the idea) that you would worry about. Plural friends and singular someone don't work together - use someone like this: That guy in Accounting is someone I could imagine going out with.

PS - Don't forget that "I" should be capitalized.

- G²

having a lot of money

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