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Fraserpan Posted 22 years ago
Grammar
Two confusing dialogues
There is a dialogue between a man and a woman:
WOMAN: Basketball practice doesn't take a lot of time, doesn't it?
MAN: Only every spare time.
I just can't figure out what that man means.
Another one:
WOMAN: I don't know why we haven't heard anything from Jane about Sunday.
MAN: We've been in and out all week. Maybe we should try calling her.
What does "in and out" mean in the dialogue?
Why is "about Sunday", not "on Sunday"?
There is also a question attached to it: what does the man infer about Jane?
The correct answer among 4 is: she has probably tried to call.
So I am confused about the answer. Why it is the correct one. The answer doesn't make sense to me.
Many thanks in advance.
WOMAN: Basketball practice doesn't take a lot of time, doesn't it?
MAN: Only every spare time.
I just can't figure out what that man means.
Another one:
WOMAN: I don't know why we haven't heard anything from Jane about Sunday.
MAN: We've been in and out all week. Maybe we should try calling her.
What does "in and out" mean in the dialogue?
Why is "about Sunday", not "on Sunday"?
There is also a question attached to it: what does the man infer about Jane?
The correct answer among 4 is: she has probably tried to call.
So I am confused about the answer. Why it is the correct one. The answer doesn't make sense to me.
Many thanks in advance.
Top answer
Hi, The 1st dialogue. The man’s statement with respect to time is incorrect, although the statements seem to be ambiguous. The woman thinks it takes very little time; the answer from the man seems to indicate that it takes most of his time.
- Hi, The 1st dialogue.
- The man’s statement with respect to time is incorrect, although the statements seem to be ambiguous.
- The woman thinks it takes very little time; the answer from the man seems to indicate that it takes most of his time.
- There are 2 variations that I see: Man: Only some/all of my spare time.
- or Man: Only every spare minute.
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3 Answers
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Hi,
The 1st dialogue.
The man’s statement with respect to time is incorrect, although the statements seem to be ambiguous. The woman thinks it takes very little time; the answer from the man seems to indicate that it takes most of his time.
There are 2 variations that I see:
Man: Only some/all of my spare time.
or
Man: Only every spare
The 1st dialogue.
The man’s statement with respect to time is incorrect, although the statements seem to be ambiguous. The woman thinks it takes very little time; the answer from the man seems to indicate that it takes most of his time.
There are 2 variations that I see:
Man: Only some/all of my spare time.
or
Man: Only every spare
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Thank you, Timbo! You are a big help!
I think the Sunday you mentioned refers to a coming Sunday, doesn't it?
I think the Sunday you mentioned refers to a coming Sunday, doesn't it?
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