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Pokh Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Likely most
She firmly believed that many minority people, likely most, would agree with her.
Is above sentence correct? What does likely most modify...?
Thank you
Is above sentence correct? What does likely most modify...?
Thank you
Top answer
pokh Is above sentence correct? What does likely most modify...? It's unusual, but correct.
- pokh Is above sentence correct?
- What does likely most modify...?
- It's unusual, but correct.
- likely probably modifies the whole main clause - somehow or other.
- I would call it a sentential adverb.
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3 Answers
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pokhIs above sentence correct? What does likely most modify...?It's unusual, but correct. likely probably modifies the whole main clause - somehow or other. I would call it a sentential adverb.
CJ
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Thanks CJ, how about If not most in sentence below
She firmly believed that many minority people, IF NOT MOST, would agree with her.
She firmly believed that many minority people, IF NOT MOST, would agree with her.
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That is the more common way of expressing the idea.
The meanings are similar. In both cases, the idea expressed by many is changed "on the fly" as if it had suddenly struck the writer that he did not mean exactly what he had written up to that point. Of course, it's merely a rhetorical device.
CJ
The meanings are similar. In both cases, the idea expressed by many is changed "on the fly" as if it had suddenly struck the writer that he did not mean exactly what he had written up to that point. Of course, it's merely a rhetorical device.
CJ
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