0
Taka Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
Much
Do these two equally work?
When you come across a word the meaning of which you don't really know, consult your dictionary.
When you come across a word the meaning of which you don't know much, consult your dictionary.
When you come across a word the meaning of which you don't really know, consult your dictionary.
When you come across a word the meaning of which you don't know much, consult your dictionary.
Top answer
#2 is not natural. Clive
- #2 is not natural.
- Clive
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
17 Answers
0
0
0
'Do not know much' does not make sense: we either know the word or we do not.
00
I just don't think I've ever heard anyone say that.
A couple of thoughts.
I don't really know the meaning of that word. 'Really' here just seems to emphasize that I don't know. It doesn't add a lot of meaning to what is being said.
A couple of thoughts.
I don't really know the meaning of that word. 'Really' here just seems to emphasize that I don't know. It doesn't add a lot of meaning to what is being said.
00
Clive if we know something a bit, we usually think we know it, and do not realize the degree to which we don't know it.But this is quite natural, isn't it? Why do you think this one is OK whereas the example already given is not?
I don't know much about it.
00
TakaBut this is quite natural, isn't it? Why do you think this one is OK whereas the example already given is not?I don't know much about it.'It' refers to a larger topic such as 'sky-diving' or 'hedge funds'. The original refers simply to a word, which we either know or do not know.
00
Mister Micawber.'It' refers to a larger topic such as 'sky-diving' or 'hedge funds'. The original refers simply to a word, which we either know or do not know.OK. Then why is this one fine?
I don't know the meaning of the word well.
00
Taka Then why is this one fine?I don't think it's fine at all. Did I say so earlier?
00
No, you didn't. I was just familiar with the expression "know X well" so I thought it would work.
Are you saying that whether it's "much" or "well", as for the meaning of a word, we either know it or we don't and there is nothing in between, so neither "much" nor "well" works?
Are you saying that whether it's "much" or "well", as for the meaning of a word, we either know it or we don't and there is nothing in between, so neither "much" nor "well" works?
00
TakaAre you saying that whether it's "much" or "well", as for the meaning of a word, we either know it or we don't and there is nothing in between, so neither "much" nor "well" works?Yes, that is what I think—or at least, that is why they sound strange.
0
Related Questions