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Tenacious Learner Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Would this question be appropriate?

Hi teachers,
The context:
Felix watched the shopkeeper’s face carefully. ‘My question,’ he said, ‘asked about Alex Dinon.
Would this question be appropriate?
Did Felix examine the shopkeeper’s face perfunctorily? Explain your answer.
No, he didn't. He did it carefully.

Thanks in advance.
  

Top answer

Tenacious Learner Did Felix examine the shopkeeper’s face perfunctorily? Explain your answer. It's 'perfunctorily' that bothers me.

— CalifJim

  • Tenacious Learner Did Felix examine the shopkeeper’s face perfunctorily?
  • Explain your answer.
  • It's 'perfunctorily' that bothers me.
  • I would use one of these instead.
  • inattentively, indifferently, apathetically, uncritically Otherwise, it looks OK.
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4 Answers
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Tenacious LearnerDid Felix examine the shopkeeper’s face perfunctorily? Explain your answer.
It's 'perfunctorily' that bothers me. I would use one of these instead.

inattentively, indifferently, apathetically, uncritically

Otherwise, it looks OK.

CJ
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CalifJiminattentively, indifferently, apathetically, uncritically
Hi Jim,
Thanks for your reply and given possibilities.
I've used 'perfunctorily' because I have the same word for this other question according to the below context. Is it also inappropriate?
The context:
Alex got into the front of the lorry, and the
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Tenacious Learner Is it also inappropriate?
I would say so. Yes. My suggestions are the same here as above.

1. 'perfunctorily' is not a good opposite to 'carefully'. 'perfunctory' means something more like routine. It's like going through the motions of doing something because you always do it the same way and you don't even think anymore of any
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CalifJim2. 'perfunctorily' is a word that, and I'm guessing, most native speakers do not know the meaning of. I don't see a need to introduce students to such a rarely used word when there are plenty of other words that they should know which can be substituted in the given context.
Hi Jim,
Thanks for your reply and clear explanations.
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