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Thread: for a better half to go shopping

  1. #1
    JACEK1 is offline Member
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    Default for a better half to go shopping

    Hello all forum members.

    Is it proper to say such a sentence "The least pleasant moment in the Nordic Walking trip is for a better half to go shopping". By the sentence in question I mean "The least pleasant moment in the Nordic Walking trip is when a better half goes shopping".

    Is such structrure acceptable to you?

    The sentence is all my own work, so no context is available.
    Last edited by JACEK1; 11-Feb-2013 at 18:54. Reason: wrong spelling

  2. #2
    SoothingDave is offline VIP Member
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    Default Re: for a better half to go shopping

    What do you mean by "a better half?"
    Odessa Dawn likes this.

  3. #3
    JACEK1 is offline Member
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    Default Re: for a better half to go shopping

    I mean a husband or a wife by a better half.

  4. #4
    SoothingDave is offline VIP Member
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    Default Re: for a better half to go shopping

    Use "when."

    "Better half" can sound condescending.
    Odessa Dawn likes this.

  5. #5
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    5jj
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    Default Re: for a better half to go shopping

    Quote Originally Posted by SoothingDave View Post
    "Better half" can sound condescending.
    Its still quite common in BrE, though often said in a tone that indicates sarcasm.
    Odessa Dawn and emsr2d2 like this.
    Context is important. Please provide enough for us to be able to deal effectively with your question.
    Your thread title should include all or part of the word/phrase being discussed.
    If you just want to know the meaning of a word, try OneLook Dictionary Search first.


  6. #6
    JACEK1 is offline Member
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    Default Re: for a better half to go shopping

    From 5jj:-

    My opinion:

    1. The least pleasant thing in ... is for a person to go shopping.
    2. The least pleasant thing for a person to do in .. is to go shopping.
    3.The least pleasant moment in ... is for a person to go shopping.


    #1 is just about possible.
    #2 is possible.
    #3 is not natural.

    ps. I do apologise, Jacek. Instead of replying to your post as I had intended, I deleted yours and put my response in its place. Unfortunately, I cannot replace your original.

    As you had asked us to deal with your original question, at least that has been done.

    My apologies again.

    5jj
    Last edited by 5jj; 11-Feb-2013 at 21:58.

  7. #7
    JACEK1 is offline Member
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    Default Re: for a better half to go shopping

    I thought that something was wrong, but it's all right. We all make mistakes and stumble.
    Thank you for very exhaustive replies.
    Last edited by JACEK1; 11-Feb-2013 at 22:10. Reason: bad memory

  8. #8
    SoothingDave is offline VIP Member
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    Default Re: for a better half to go shopping

    Quote Originally Posted by 5jj View Post
    Its still quite common in BrE, though often said in a tone that indicates sarcasm.
    Exactly. It would be hard to use this without sounding like you were being sarcastic or belittling.

  9. #9
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    Default Re: for a better half to go shopping

    I don't think twice when people refer to their partner as "my better half". Plenty of people say it with no suggestion of sarcasm or belittlement.
    Remember - correct capitalisation, punctuation and spacing make posts much easier to read.

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