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Usenet Posted 23 years ago
Usage
How many described
"Alex made everyone in the company nervous. He was a strange man, was how many described him."
I don't get the second sentence. Does this mean that a surprising number of people described Alex was a strange man?
Also, is it possible to use this construction with other verbs than "describe"? For example, can I say idiomatically "..., was how many people said about him"?
Eamer
I don't get the second sentence. Does this mean that a surprising number of people described Alex was a strange man?
Also, is it possible to use this construction with other verbs than "describe"? For example, can I say idiomatically "..., was how many people said about him"?
Eamer
Top answer
[nq:1]"Alex made everyone in the company nervous. " I don't get the second sentence. [/nq] Yes, but there is no indication of a surprising number.
- [nq:1]"Alex made everyone in the company nervous.
- " I don't get the second sentence.
- [/nq] Yes, but there is no indication of a surprising number.
- [nq:1]Also, is it possible to use this construction with other verbs than "describe"?
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5 Answers
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[nq:1]"Alex made everyone in the company nervous. He was a strange man, was how many described him." I don't get the second sentence. Does this mean that a surprising number of people described Alex was a strange man?[/nq]
Yes, but there is no indication of a surprising number.
[nq:1]Also, is it possible to use this construction with other verbs than "describe"? For example, can I s
Yes, but there is no indication of a surprising number.
[nq:1]Also, is it possible to use this construction with other verbs than "describe"? For example, can I s
00
[nq:2]"Alex made everyone in the company nervous. He was a ... surprising number of people described Alex was a strange man?[/nq]
[nq:1]Yes, but there is no indication of a surprising number.[/nq]
Now you made me realize that I was completely mistaken about the construction. In fact there was nothing strange about it. Thanks!
Eamer
[nq:1]Yes, but there is no indication of a surprising number.[/nq]
Now you made me realize that I was completely mistaken about the construction. In fact there was nothing strange about it. Thanks!
Eamer
00
X-No-Archive: yes
[nq:1]"Alex made everyone in the company nervous. He was a strange man, was how many described him." I don't get ... construction with other verbs than "describe"? For example, can I say idiomatically "..., was how many people said about him"?[/nq]
"Many described him as a strange man." Always go for the simple option.
James Follett. Novelist (Callsign G1LXP)
[nq:1]"Alex made everyone in the company nervous. He was a strange man, was how many described him." I don't get ... construction with other verbs than "describe"? For example, can I say idiomatically "..., was how many people said about him"?[/nq]
"Many described him as a strange man." Always go for the simple option.
James Follett. Novelist (Callsign G1LXP)
00
[nq:2]Yes, but there is no indication of a surprising number.[/nq]
[nq:1]Now you made me realize that I was completely mistaken about the construction. In fact there was nothing strange about it. Thanks![/nq]
There's nothing odd about the construction only the punctuation is crazy:
"Alex made everyone in the company nervous. 'He was a strange man' was how many described him."
[nq:1]Now you made me realize that I was completely mistaken about the construction. In fact there was nothing strange about it. Thanks![/nq]
There's nothing odd about the construction only the punctuation is crazy:
"Alex made everyone in the company nervous. 'He was a strange man' was how many described him."
00
[nq:2]Now you made me realize that I was completely mistaken about the construction. In fact there was nothing strange about it. Thanks![/nq]
[nq:1]There's nothing odd about the construction only the punctuation is crazy: "Alex made everyone in the company nervous. 'He was a strange man' was how many described him." Gary[/nq]
That won't work, however, if what they actually said was "He is
[nq:1]There's nothing odd about the construction only the punctuation is crazy: "Alex made everyone in the company nervous. 'He was a strange man' was how many described him." Gary[/nq]
That won't work, however, if what they actually said was "He is
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