Usage of "fake interest"

Question

Hi,Is this dialog grammatical and natural by your standards?A: Why don't you hang out with the Jonhson's kids anymore?B: I'm tired of faking interest in whatever BS they're saying, so I've ended our friendship.I suppose I can't say "faking an interest in". I mean, the indefinite article is gratuitous here, isn't it?Thanks !

RayH · Accepted Answer

MrPernicketyI suppose I can't say "faking an interest in". I mean, the indefinite article is gratuitous here, isn't it?

I don't have any problem with either version.

BarbaraPA · Answer

MrPernicketyHi,

Is this dialog grammatical and natural by your standards?

A: Why don't you hang out with the Jonhson's kids anymore?

B: I'm tired of faking interest in whatever BS they're saying, so I've ended our friendship.

I suppose I can't say "faking an interest in". I mean, the indefinite article is gratuitous here, isn't it?

Thanks !

The Johnson kids. Not Johnson's.

You can say it either with or without the "an." With the "an" it seems to refer to each time.

What's not natural is "so I've ended our friendship." That sounds so formal - not in keeping with "hang out with" and "kids" and "BS." Probably this person didn't "end" their friendship by saying something like "I no longer wish to associate with you" - they just stopped going over, inviting them over, whatever. In other words, they just don't hang out any more.

I just got tired of pretending to care about their constant BS. -- That's all you need to say.

MrPernickety · Answer

Thanks for the help, especially for the break-down !

Now I see the inconsistencies of my style

CalifJim · Answer

MrPernicketyI suppose I can't say "faking an interest in".

You suppose wrong. You can do that one with or without the article.

It's "with the Johnsons' kids", by the way.

CJ

Usage of "fake interest"

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