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Taka Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

much

What is the difference between these?

(1)The group has never succeeded in collecting two million dollars to save the wild animals there.

(2)The group has never succeeded in collecting so much as two million dollars to save the wild animals there.
  

Top answer

To me, they have about the same meaning. The first sentence implies that there was a two million dollar goal, and the group did not reach their goal. Maybe they collected nothing at all.

  • To me, they have about the same meaning.
  • The first sentence implies that there was a two million dollar goal, and the group did not reach their goal.
  • Maybe they collected nothing at all.
  • In the second, the goal is less clear.
  • It might have been 10 million, but it tells us that the group collected some money, less than 2 million.
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4 Answers
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To me, they have about the same meaning. The first sentence implies that there was a two million dollar goal, and the group did not reach their goal. Maybe they collected nothing at all. In the second, the goal is less clear. It might have been 10 million, but it tells us that the group collected some money, less than 2 million.
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Hi,
To me, #2 indicates that $2 million is a ridiculously low amount.

eg Angry wife to tightwad husband: I pay for all our food! You eat here, and you never give me so much as a dollar for groceries.

Best wishes, Clive
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Clive, I agree.
Number 2 is more negative in tone. It implies that the group has failed to raise as much as a drop in the bucket.
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I see.
Thank you all! 

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