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Anonymous Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
Usage of "earlier"
Sentences like "I get up 10 minutes earlier than usual" and "I arrive 10 minutes earlier than you do" are possible to use? What I would like to know is if earlier can be used in present tense or future tense. What do you native English speakers think?
Thank you so much in advance.
Thank you so much in advance.
Top answer
" is making a general statement about the time that you usually get up, and you can't say "I usually get up ten minutes earlier than I usually get up". If you add a qualifier to narrow its applicability, it becomes meaningful: "Yesterday I got up ten minutes earlier than usual" "This morning I got up ten minutes earlier than usual" (still past tense) "Tomorrow morning I will get up ten minutes earlier than usual" "I arrive 10 minutes earlier than you do " That sentence is fine. Again it's making a general statement, because there is no qualifier that narrows its applicability.
- " is making a general statement about the time that you usually get up, and you can't say "I usually get up ten minutes earlier than I usually get up".
- If you add a qualifier to narrow its applicability, it becomes meaningful: "Yesterday I got up ten minutes earlier than usual" "This morning I got up ten minutes earlier than usual" (still past tense) "Tomorrow morning I will get up ten minutes earlier than usual" "I arrive 10 minutes earlier than you do " That sentence is fine.
- Again it's making a general statement, because there is no qualifier that narrows its applicability.
- It's similar to " Usually or generally , I arrive ten minutes earlier than or before you" or "I usually arrive ten minutes earlier than you usually arrive".
- These sentences are all grammatically correct and meaningful.
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4 Answers
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"I get up 10 minutes earlier than usual"
That sentence is grammatically correct, but it doesn't really make sense, because "I get up ..." is making a general statement about the time that you usually get up, and you can't say "I usually get up ten minutes earlier than I usually get up". If you add a qualifier to narrow its applicability, it beco
That sentence is grammatically correct, but it doesn't really make sense, because "I get up ..." is making a general statement about the time that you usually get up, and you can't say "I usually get up ten minutes earlier than I usually get up". If you add a qualifier to narrow its applicability, it beco
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Thank you so much and "Again it's making a general statement, because there is no qualifier that narrows its applicability." .I think that you intended to mean Again it's not making a general statement,...or could you explain the sentence more specifically, if you do not mind? Or "I arrive 10 minutes earlier than you do" is fine to use
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Oh never mind!! Now I got it and I just would like to make sure that "I arrive 10 minutes earlier than you do" is fine to use and it makes sense, right? Thank you so much as usual.
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Yes, "I arrive ten minutes earlier than you [do]" is fine, with or without the do. It is a general statement that applies all or most of the time.
1. "I always arrive ten minutes earlier than you [do]" is a more specific statement.
2. "I usually or normally arrive ten minutes earlier than you [do]" is also a more specific statement.
3. "I arrive
1. "I always arrive ten minutes earlier than you [do]" is a more specific statement.
2. "I usually or normally arrive ten minutes earlier than you [do]" is also a more specific statement.
3. "I arrive
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