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Kook j Posted 15 years ago
Vocabulary
Rather
Do I have something wrong with these?
·The conflict was rather brutal.
·She was rather miserable in her last years.
I think these usages of rather are little odd. Because this kind of adjectives include the meaning of extreme themselves.
·The conflict was rather brutal.
·She was rather miserable in her last years.
I think these usages of rather are little odd. Because this kind of adjectives include the meaning of extreme themselves.
Top answer
kook j I think these usages of rather are little odd. Maybe 'a little', but if they were said in conversation, they would likely be passed over in silence. No one would stop to think that they sounded odd.
- kook j I think these usages of rather are little odd.
- Maybe 'a little', but if they were said in conversation, they would likely be passed over in silence.
- No one would stop to think that they sounded odd.
- CJ
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9 Answers
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kook jI think these usages of rather are little odd.Maybe 'a little', but if they were said in conversation, they would likely be passed over in silence. No one would stop to think that they sounded odd.
CJ
00
Hi,
Do I have something wrong with these?
·The conflict was rather brutal.
·She was rather miserable in her last years.
I think these usages of rather are little odd. Because this kind of adjectives include the meaning of extreme itself.
Your sentences are fine. 'Rather' is often us
Do I have something wrong with these?
·The conflict was rather brutal.
·She was rather miserable in her last years.
I think these usages of rather are little odd. Because this kind of adjectives include the meaning of extreme itself.
Your sentences are fine. 'Rather' is often us
00
My opinion is that you're more right than wrong, Kook J.
To me, "rather" seems stilted and some may even say pompous.
When you think about it, because the conflct was brutal (savagely violent), what purpose is served by saying that it was, to a certain or significant extent or degree (rather) brutal? It's seems contradictory.
Same goes for the second sentence.
B
To me, "rather" seems stilted and some may even say pompous.
When you think about it, because the conflct was brutal (savagely violent), what purpose is served by saying that it was, to a certain or significant extent or degree (rather) brutal? It's seems contradictory.
Same goes for the second sentence.
B
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JohnParisTo me, "rather" seems stilted and some may even say pompous.Precisely. That's what I thought.
When you think about it, because the conflct was brutal (savagely violent), what purpose is served by saying that it was, to a certain or significant extent or degree (rather) brutal? It's seems contradictory.
John
Thank you three of you.
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Hi John,
Do you thinkit would be too much of a generalization to say that most Americans don't favour understatement, which is one common function of 'rather'.
Clive
Do you thinkit would be too much of a generalization to say that most Americans don't favour understatement, which is one common function of 'rather'.
Clive
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Yes, that's too much of a generalization. I can certainly imagine an American wryly pairing "rather" with an extreme adjective like "brutal" or "miserable." However, I think younger Americans would be more likely to use "kind of."
00
Hi Clive,
I doubt most Americans even know what understatement (or the art of its use) means.
John
I doubt most Americans even know what understatement (or the art of its use) means.
John
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JohnParisI doubt most Americans even know what understatement (or the art of its use) means.And that's an understatement.
CJ
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1.I'd say
The flowers I found there were rather pretty.
Recently my life is becoming rather tough.
The situation was rather complicated then.
2.I may not say
These flowers are rather wonderful.
I'm rather exhausted.
He is rather wise guy.
As Calive and Jim asid, I think these are all acceptable, I can see no further than the i
The flowers I found there were rather pretty.
Recently my life is becoming rather tough.
The situation was rather complicated then.
2.I may not say
These flowers are rather wonderful.
I'm rather exhausted.
He is rather wise guy.
As Calive and Jim asid, I think these are all acceptable, I can see no further than the i
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