0
Usenet Posted 21 years ago
Usage
"I've never met him before."
Immediately after Jane has finished talking to Joseph, Jane's friend Thomas walks up to her and say, "so you and Joseph are old friends, I see." Should Jane answer:
1. "I've never met him before."
2. "I never met him before."
3. "I'd never met him before."
Slightly different scenario: Joseph says to Jane, "you look very familiar." Should Jane answer:
1. "I've never met you before."
2. "I never met you before."
3. "I'd never met you before."
Thanks.
Sam
1. "I've never met him before."
2. "I never met him before."
3. "I'd never met him before."
Slightly different scenario: Joseph says to Jane, "you look very familiar." Should Jane answer:
1. "I've never met you before."
2. "I never met you before."
3. "I'd never met you before."
Thanks.
Sam
Top answer
} Immediately after Jane has finished talking to Joseph, Jane's friend } Thomas walks up to her and say, ... Oy! There was more stuff, but it was much subtler (and easier).
- } Immediately after Jane has finished talking to Joseph, Jane's friend } Thomas walks up to her and say, ...
- Oy!
- There was more stuff, but it was much subtler (and easier).
- R.
- J.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
14 Answers
0
} Immediately after Jane has finished talking to Joseph, Jane's friend } Thomas walks up to her and say,
...
Oy!
There was more stuff, but it was much subtler (and easier).
R. J. Valentine
Huh?
...
Oy!
There was more stuff, but it was much subtler (and easier).
R. J. Valentine
Huh?
00
[nq:1]Immediately after Jane has finished talking to Joseph, Jane's friend Thomas walks up to her and say, "so you and ... Jane answer: 1. "I've never met him before." 2. "I never met him before." 3. "I'd never met him before."[/nq]
She could say any of the three, with a slightly different perspective associated with each one. The third one would be more likely if followed by "tonight" or some
She could say any of the three, with a slightly different perspective associated with each one. The third one would be more likely if followed by "tonight" or some
00
[nq:1]Immediately after Jane has finished talking to Joseph, Jane's friend Thomas walks up to her and say, "so you and ... Jane answer: 1. "I've never met him before." 2. "I never met him before." 3. "I'd never met him before."[/nq]
3
[nq:1]Slightly different scenario: Joseph says to Jane, "you look very familiar." Should Jane answer: 1. "I've never met you before." 2. "I never met you bef
3
[nq:1]Slightly different scenario: Joseph says to Jane, "you look very familiar." Should Jane answer: 1. "I've never met you before." 2. "I never met you bef
00
[nq:2]Slightly different scenario: Joseph says to Jane, "you look very ... never met you before." 2. "I never met you before."[/nq]
[nq:1]Either of the first two. The first sounds softer, the second one more abrupt.[/nq]
Would you mind expounding a bit on this?
Thanks.
Marius Hancu
[nq:1]Either of the first two. The first sounds softer, the second one more abrupt.[/nq]
Would you mind expounding a bit on this?
Thanks.
Marius Hancu
00
A small caveat from the UK perspective: version 2 in each set would be unlikely - that is, unidiomatic - in BrE, though it's probably becoming less unlikely as people pick it up from US TV programmes, etc.
Katy Jennison
spamtrap: remove the first two letters after the @
Katy Jennison
spamtrap: remove the first two letters after the @
00
Sam wrote on 13 May 2005:
[nq:1]Immediately after Jane has finished talking to Joseph, Jane's friend Thomas walks up to her and say, "so you and ... Jane answer: 1. "I've never met him before." 2. "I never met him before." 3. "I'd never met him before."[/nq]
4. I'd never met him until he stepped on my toe a few minutes ago.
[nq:1]Slightly different scenario: Joseph says to Jane, "you l
[nq:1]Immediately after Jane has finished talking to Joseph, Jane's friend Thomas walks up to her and say, "so you and ... Jane answer: 1. "I've never met him before." 2. "I never met him before." 3. "I'd never met him before."[/nq]
4. I'd never met him until he stepped on my toe a few minutes ago.
[nq:1]Slightly different scenario: Joseph says to Jane, "you l
00
[nq:2]Slightly different scenario: Joseph says to Jane, "you look very ... never met you before." 2. "I never met you before."...[/nq]
[nq:1]Either of the first two. The first sounds softer, the second one more abrupt.[/nq]
A subtle point, but I agree. Someone asked me at the hotel bar yesterday, what are you doing here? I found that rude, although I don't think any offence was intended. H
[nq:1]Either of the first two. The first sounds softer, the second one more abrupt.[/nq]
A subtle point, but I agree. Someone asked me at the hotel bar yesterday, what are you doing here? I found that rude, although I don't think any offence was intended. H
00
[nq:2]Either of the first two. The first sounds softer, the second one more abrupt.[/nq]
[nq:1]A subtle point, but I agree. Someone asked me at the hotel bar yesterday, what are you doing here? I found that rude, although I don't think any offence was intended. How would that be worded in a softer way?[/nq]
"Are you here on business?" Or any number of other plausible and non-insulting gues
[nq:1]A subtle point, but I agree. Someone asked me at the hotel bar yesterday, what are you doing here? I found that rude, although I don't think any offence was intended. How would that be worded in a softer way?[/nq]
"Are you here on business?" Or any number of other plausible and non-insulting gues
00
[nq:2]Either of the first two. The first sounds softer, the second one more abrupt.[/nq]
[nq:1]A subtle point, but I agree. Someone asked me at the hotel bar yesterday, what are you doing here? I found that rude, although I don't think any offence was intended. How would that be worded in a softer way?[/nq]
Get your *** off my chair?
Ray
[nq:1]A subtle point, but I agree. Someone asked me at the hotel bar yesterday, what are you doing here? I found that rude, although I don't think any offence was intended. How would that be worded in a softer way?[/nq]
Get your *** off my chair?
Ray
00
[nq:2]Either of the first two. The first sounds softer, the second onemore abrupt.[/nq]
[nq:1]Would you mind expounding a bit on this?[/nq]
I'm not sure why it sounds that way to me. I'll try to guess. Anything that adds words to an utterance can make it seem less abrupt, more willing to communicate, less dismissive.
john
[nq:1]Would you mind expounding a bit on this?[/nq]
I'm not sure why it sounds that way to me. I'll try to guess. Anything that adds words to an utterance can make it seem less abrupt, more willing to communicate, less dismissive.
john
0
Related Questions