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Old 23-Nov-2004, 09:53
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Default Re: Does "former teachers" make sense?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Joe
Does "former teachers/friends" make sense? Suppose I am in college now, can I refer to my teachers and friends in high school as "former teachers/friends"? I didn't this usage of "former" in several dictionaries, but I can see "former friends" if I do a google search. I'm confused, in need of your comments. Thanks.
Well, it's OK, but it has an idiomatic ring to it, and it's not always a positive one, in that it can mean, the one I had before, but one that has since been replaced by something/someone better.

EX: She is my former girlfriend.
EX: He is one of our former employees.

Try,

My teachers from high school
My friends from high school
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