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Icadia Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Problem in understanding a sentence
Until he gets it, you are wise to be concerned about your children. Keep a watchful eye.
This is from "Dear abby"
I don't understand what is the exact meaning of "you are wise to be concerned..."
I‘ve seen this type of sentences a couple of times before.
If the sentence was "It would be wise to be concerned.....", I would have no problems in understanding.
The structure starting with "It" is very common and easy to understand.
however, with a sentence starting with another pronoun , such as "you", I am a little confused and don't know how it works.
Could you explain the meaning in another form. I also wonder what the "to-infinitive" is used as.
This is from "Dear abby"
I don't understand what is the exact meaning of "you are wise to be concerned..."
I‘ve seen this type of sentences a couple of times before.
If the sentence was "It would be wise to be concerned.....", I would have no problems in understanding.
The structure starting with "It" is very common and easy to understand.
however, with a sentence starting with another pronoun , such as "you", I am a little confused and don't know how it works.
Could you explain the meaning in another form. I also wonder what the "to-infinitive" is used as.
Top answer
it is quite a popular construction, i mean that of "Adj. g. You are so good to let me know about it.
- it is quite a popular construction, i mean that of "Adj.
- g.
- You are so good to let me know about it.
- or whatever...
- but the sentence you wrote here is really quite difficult to figure out.
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2 Answers
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it is quite a popular construction, i mean that of "Adj. as predicative + to Inf." e.g. You are so good to let me know about it. or whatever... but the sentence you wrote here is really quite difficult to figure out. probably the sense is clear but why this form is used is a question indeed. perhaps "wise" here acquires another meaning...? or we should take it as for an imperative like "be wise"
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You are wise -- this is describing the reader
to be concerned - because you act in this way
Abby is agreeing with the writer that she is taking a wise course of action.
You are so good to come: Your coming here shows that you are acting as a very good person would act.
You are so clever to guess: That you were able to guess shows that you are being clever
to be concerned - because you act in this way
Abby is agreeing with the writer that she is taking a wise course of action.
You are so good to come: Your coming here shows that you are acting as a very good person would act.
You are so clever to guess: That you were able to guess shows that you are being clever
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