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Pchuang Posted 19 years ago
Vocabulary

"for good " or "for someone's good"

0 the context of this sentence is convicts were transported from England to Australia in 1780:02br
02br
00"and most of the convicts had left their country for their country’s good. A few were never to see England again."02br
02br
00"left their country for their country's good": does it mean those convicts were doing it for the interest of their homeland? hardly true, as they were forced to Australia. or, does it mean "left their country for good"? again, there is a problem: the next sentence says the exactly the same thing.02br
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00so what is the exact meaning of the sentence then?0-
  

Top answer

0 It means that it was for the benefit - the good - of the country. It doesn't say they were doing it altruistically or that they wanted to go. It just means that it was good for the country that they had to leave.

— Nona the brit

  • 0 It means that it was for the benefit - the good - of the country.
  • It doesn't say they were doing it altruistically or that they wanted to go.
  • It just means that it was good for the country that they had to leave.
  • I agree it does sound a little strange.
  • 0-
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2 Answers
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0 It means that it was for the benefit - the good - of the country. It doesn't say they were doing it altruistically or that they wanted to go. It just means that it was good for the country that they had to leave. I agree it does sound a little strange. 0-
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0 A more exact formulation:02br
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01i00had left their country->had been 01b00forced02b00 to leave their country02br
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02i00but when reading the word 01b01i00convicts02i02b00, one realizes the true meaning, they certainly were forced to do it. 01i02br
02i
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