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TomJ Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Q20: Questions about a few commonly heard sentences, please

Hello dear teachers, Emotion: smile

Q1: Could you please tell me what 'there was no help for it' means? Is it the same as saying 'there was no other alternative' or 'there was no other choice'?

Q2: When we say 'I'm sorry, I can't help it', does it mean 'I'm sorry, I can't do anything (to help you)'?

Q3: In what context do we say 'you don't have a choice', please?

Thank you all.
  

Top answer

1 - There was nothing we could do to improve it. 2 - I do something automatically, I have no control. 3 - We can amputate the leg, or you can die.

— Philip

  • 1 - There was nothing we could do to improve it.
  • 2 - I do something automatically, I have no control.
  • 3 - We can amputate the leg, or you can die.
  • You don't really have a choice.
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6 Answers
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1 - There was nothing we could do to improve it.
2 - I do something automatically, I have no control.
3 - We can amputate the leg, or you can die. You don't really have a choice.
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TomJ'there was no help for it'
Idiomatically, it can mean: there was no solution or (medical situations) there was no cure.
TomJQ2: When we say 'I'm sorry, I can't help it', does it mean 'I'm sorry, I can't do anything (to help you)'?
No, it means that I have no control over an action.

eg.

A:
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Philip and Alphecca Stars, thanks to both of you, for your helpful replies. Ma'am, the meaning of 'you don't have a choice' isn't clear to me yet. I know Philip has already told me what it means and he's also given me an example, but I didn't quite get what that example meant. So, would you kindly help me by telling me what 'you don't have a choice' means with an example or two if possible? I also
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It simply means that there are no options. It's usually used in a negative situation. In my example of amputation, the leg had to be taken, or there would have been serious consequences. Of course, there is always a choice, but the expression is used to emphasize that there is only one option that is acceptable.
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Ohh... thank you, thank you, thank you! It was the word 'amputate' that was making me confused. I've just looked it up in a dictionary. Now, it's clear to me, Philip, what that meant.
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AlpheccaStarsA: Mary's new hairdo looks like something done by a hairdresser just released from an insane asylum.B: (Laughing)C: That was a cruel comment! It was not funny!B: (Laughing harder) I'm sorry. I can't help it.
OMG. Have you been listening in on my conversations? You know me that well just from being on the forum?
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