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Yanx Posted 16 years ago
Vocabulary
Sort of
Hi,
People often say "...sort of ..." in the middle of a sentence, it may refer to "slightly"; "to some extent";or "similar but not exactly" etc. In order to better understand this phrase when people talk, please explain the subtle differences of "sort of " between the following sentences.
1. If he sort of apologized, maybe the people of New York will sort of vote for him.
2. Gerard Butler Interviewed - He sort of answers if he’ll be playing the Pirate in WATCHMEN (a title)
http://www.collider.com/entertainment/article.asp?aid=6277&tcid=1
3. How many people in the United States have some sort of mental disorder?
If there are other situations where "sort of" is freqently used please kindly advise.
Thank you very much!
People often say "...sort of ..." in the middle of a sentence, it may refer to "slightly"; "to some extent";or "similar but not exactly" etc. In order to better understand this phrase when people talk, please explain the subtle differences of "sort of " between the following sentences.
1. If he sort of apologized, maybe the people of New York will sort of vote for him.
2. Gerard Butler Interviewed - He sort of answers if he’ll be playing the Pirate in WATCHMEN (a title)
http://www.collider.com/entertainment/article.asp?aid=6277&tcid=1
3. How many people in the United States have some sort of mental disorder?
If there are other situations where "sort of" is freqently used please kindly advise.
Thank you very much!
Top answer
The first two are the same: to some extent, a bit, slightly. The first one makes fun of the lack of a true apology (a sort-of apology) by suggesting that without a real apology, he won't get a real vote. " Some sort of = a type of, but I don't know exactly what type.
- The first two are the same: to some extent, a bit, slightly.
- The first one makes fun of the lack of a true apology (a sort-of apology) by suggesting that without a real apology, he won't get a real vote.
- " Some sort of = a type of, but I don't know exactly what type.
- He has some sort of infection (I don't know the name of the infection, but he had one).
- )
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4 Answers
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The first two are the same: to some extent, a bit, slightly. The first one makes fun of the lack of a true apology (a sort-of apology) by suggesting that without a real apology, he won't get a real vote.
The third one is entirely different because of the "some." Some sort of = a type of, but I don't know exactly what type.
The third one is entirely different because of the "some." Some sort of = a type of, but I don't know exactly what type.
- He has some sort of infection (I don't know the name
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Yes - I agree with Grammar Geek to some extent.>> I sort of agree with him.
I think in the first phrase the speaker is embarrassed and is using "sort of" to soften the phrase. Imagine for example, a young person talking to a parent about that parent's favourite politician.
He does not want to be direct and say - He should apologise and then people would vote for him.
I think in the first phrase the speaker is embarrassed and is using "sort of" to soften the phrase. Imagine for example, a young person talking to a parent about that parent's favourite politician.
He does not want to be direct and say - He should apologise and then people would vote for him.
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