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Peaceblinkfriend Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

"How could I give back your kindness?"

"How could I give back your kindness?"


Does this sound like a natural thing to say? Should I use 'repay' instead?

Thank you

PBF
  

Top answer

Use 'repay' or 'return'.

— Mister Micawber

  • Use 'repay' or 'return'.
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5 Answers
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Use 'repay' or 'return'.
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Thanks for your reply Mister Micawber.

Would saying 'How could I repay your kindness?' sound too formal or pathetic so to speak?

Thanks again

PBF
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How can I ever repay your kindness?
Hmm. Yes. A bit pathetic to my ear. Emotion: smile
CJ
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I think it's the 'ever' that makes it pathetic. And maybe 'kindness'. How about 'How can I repay you?'
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How about?
Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.
Any mention of repayment seems to taint the situation. It's like treating human kindness as something that requires an economic exchange of some kind. But maybe it's just me. When I do something nice for someone, I don't like to hear talk of repayment.
This is clearly an extra-linguistic consideration -- a matter of pe
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