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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
In vs. Out of
Hello!
I am wondering which is right -- in or out of while describing the cause of a certain action? Example: He smiled in appreciation. He lifted his hands in desperation. He cried in helplessness. Then we have the same examples with out of: He cried out of helplesness etc. etc.
Which is accurate?
I am wondering which is right -- in or out of while describing the cause of a certain action? Example: He smiled in appreciation. He lifted his hands in desperation. He cried in helplessness. Then we have the same examples with out of: He cried out of helplesness etc. etc.
Which is accurate?
Top answer
I found 44 Google listings for "cried in helplessness", all by non-native speakers. g. in love, I was in utter despair.
- I found 44 Google listings for "cried in helplessness", all by non-native speakers.
- g.
- in love, I was in utter despair.
- Here, 'in' (compared to 'out of') means that the person is acknowledging/indicating how they are feeling.
- So: He smiled in appreciation.
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5 Answers
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I found 44 Google listings for "cried in helplessness", all by non-native speakers.
'in' =(often followed by a noun without a determiner) expressing a state or condition
e.g. in love, I was in utter despair.
Here, 'in' (compared to 'out of') means that the person is acknowledging/indicating how they are feeling.
So:
He smiled in appreciation.
but never
'in' =(often followed by a noun without a determiner) expressing a state or condition
e.g. in love, I was in utter despair.
Here, 'in' (compared to 'out of') means that the person is acknowledging/indicating how they are feeling.
So:
He smiled in appreciation.
but never
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Thanks. But why can't it be 'out of appreciation.' Could not appreciation be the state which caused the man to smile? I am a little confused about this.
Regarding 'lifted his arms out of helplessness'...wouldn't this mean helpnessness caused him to lift his arms? But I want it to mean: he lifted his arms while being in a helpless state. I don't want to show helplessness as the caus
Regarding 'lifted his arms out of helplessness'...wouldn't this mean helpnessness caused him to lift his arms? But I want it to mean: he lifted his arms while being in a helpless state. I don't want to show helplessness as the caus
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So........feeling "appreciative" drove him to smile, compelled him to smile; or the smile occurred because his options for acting in any other way were exhausted??
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I don't understand what you;re trying to say. I am sorry.
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He didn't NEED to smile - he chose to acknowledge how he was feeling -appreciative - by giving a smile.
He gave me a big hug in appreciation for my help.
compare
(I am terrified of heights. A fire breaks out in my hotel, and I am trapped in my room. The fire is blocking the door, so the only thing to do is go out the window and stand on a narrow ledge, perched 10
He gave me a big hug in appreciation for my help.
compare
(I am terrified of heights. A fire breaks out in my hotel, and I am trapped in my room. The fire is blocking the door, so the only thing to do is go out the window and stand on a narrow ledge, perched 10
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