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Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
like this VS like that
Q1. Are the following 2 sentences correct? If so, what's the difference?
A: "Oh, you've come from G valley. Was the weather bad over there?" "Yes, very bad. It was raining hard. It'll be like that soon."
B: "Oh, you've come from G valley. Was the weather bad over there?" "Yes, very bad. It was raining hard. It'll be like this soon."
I think B is a bit strange, because "like this" means nearness to the person who said, "Yes, very bad. ---." Am I right?
Q2.
A: When I have enough money to buy books, I don't have enough time to read them. And when I have enough time to read books, I don't have enough money to buy them. It's like that all the time.
B: When I have enough money to buy books, I don't have enough time to read them. And when I have enough time to read books, I don't have enough money to buy them. It's like this all the time.
I think in B the speaker feels his usual experiences as close to himself, and see them subjectively, while in A he sees them objectively or impersonally. Is my explanation right?
Or should I avoid such a psychological approach?
A: "Oh, you've come from G valley. Was the weather bad over there?" "Yes, very bad. It was raining hard. It'll be like that soon."
B: "Oh, you've come from G valley. Was the weather bad over there?" "Yes, very bad. It was raining hard. It'll be like this soon."
I think B is a bit strange, because "like this" means nearness to the person who said, "Yes, very bad. ---." Am I right?
Q2.
A: When I have enough money to buy books, I don't have enough time to read them. And when I have enough time to read books, I don't have enough money to buy them. It's like that all the time.
B: When I have enough money to buy books, I don't have enough time to read them. And when I have enough time to read books, I don't have enough money to buy them. It's like this all the time.
I think in B the speaker feels his usual experiences as close to himself, and see them subjectively, while in A he sees them objectively or impersonally. Is my explanation right?
Or should I avoid such a psychological approach?
Top answer
Q1. Are the following 2 sentences correct? If so, what's the difference?
- Q1.
- Are the following 2 sentences correct?
- If so, what's the difference?
- A: "Oh, you've come from G valley.
- " "Yes, very bad.
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6 Answers
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Q1. Are the following 2 sentences correct? If so, what's the difference?
A: "Oh, you've come from G valley. Was the weather bad over there?" "Yes, very bad. It was raining hard. It'll be like that soon."
B: "Oh, you've come from G valley. Was the weather bad over there?" "Yes, very bad. It wa
A: "Oh, you've come from G valley. Was the weather bad over there?" "Yes, very bad. It was raining hard. It'll be like that soon."
B: "Oh, you've come from G valley. Was the weather bad over there?" "Yes, very bad. It wa
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--- Sorry I miswrote sample sentences of Q 1. I forgot to write "here" The correct sample is:
A: "Oh, you've come from G valley. Was the weather bad over there?" "Yes, very bad. It was raining hard. It'll be like that here soon."
B: "Oh, you've come from G valley. Was the weather bad over there?" "Yes, very bad. It was raining hard. It'll be like this here soon."
A: "Oh, you've come from G valley. Was the weather bad over there?" "Yes, very bad. It was raining hard. It'll be like that here soon."
B: "Oh, you've come from G valley. Was the weather bad over there?" "Yes, very bad. It was raining hard. It'll be like this here soon."
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I mean in Q2 I can't find the difference in the words you used? What's different? Could you put it in bold to help?
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-I think I was wrong. Probably "like this" and "like that" are the same in meaning when used in general terms.
By the way, is B in Q 1. (my corrected version) correct?
B: "Oh, you've come from G valley. Was the weather bad over there?" "Yes, very bad. It was raining hard. It'll be like this here soon."
By the way, is B in Q 1. (my corrected version) correct?
B: "Oh, you've come from G valley. Was the weather bad over there?" "Yes, very bad. It was raining hard. It'll be like this here soon."
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No, you need to say "It'll be like that [how it was in G valley] here soon." Using "this" means what's happening here. Using "that" means the weather there.
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