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27-Apr-2004, 10:22
| | | too III Are these sentences correct:
1-It is not a too bad appartment.
2-He spoke in not a too unrefined manner.
3-It is a not too bad appartment.
4-He spoke in a not too unrefined manner. | 
27-Apr-2004, 11:27
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| | I prefer 3&4, though in 4, I'd say 'none too'. However, 'not too unrefined' is strtching lexis a bit. | 
27-Apr-2004, 14:37
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| | Re: too III Quote: |
Originally Posted by navi Are these sentences correct:
1-It is not a too bad appartment.
2-He spoke in not a too unrefined manner.
3-It is a not too bad appartment.
4-He spoke in a not too unrefined manner. | I would say "no" to all.
At least in AE, better would be:
It is not too bad an apartment.
He spoke in not too unrefined a manner. (I would rephrase this)
When we have an adjective that is preceded by an adverb (or adverbs), such as "so", "too" (possibly also with "not") we move the article to the other side of the adjective.
a bad apartment
a very bad apartment
such a bad apartment
not so bad an apartment
not too bad an apartment
so small an apartment
too hot an apartment | 
27-Apr-2004, 16:16
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| | I'm not a fan of thesentences, but wouldn't go so far as to say they are wrong. | 
27-Apr-2004, 16:39
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| | Quote: |
Originally Posted by tdol I'm not a fan of thesentences, but wouldn't go so far as to say they are wrong.  | That's because you are more tolerant than I. | 
27-Apr-2004, 23:33
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| | Popes shouldn't be too liberal. | 
28-Apr-2004, 03:11
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| | Quote: |
Originally Posted by tdol Popes shouldn't be too liberal.  | Nor should English teachers. :wink: | 
28-Apr-2004, 09:49
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| | I'm a conservative liberal. | 
28-Apr-2004, 11:16
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| | Thanks TDOL and Mike.
To tolerate or not to tolerate.... | 
28-Apr-2004, 11:56
| | | Re: too III Quote: |
Originally Posted by MikeNewYork Quote: |
Originally Posted by navi Are these sentences correct:
1-It is not a too bad appartment.
2-He spoke in not a too unrefined manner.
3-It is a not too bad appartment.
4-He spoke in a not too unrefined manner. | I would say "no" to all.
At least in AE, better would be:
It is not too bad an apartment.
He spoke in not too unrefined a manner. (I would rephrase this)
When we have an adjective that is preceded by an adverb (or adverbs), such as "so", "too" (possibly also with "not") we move the article to the other side of the adjective.
a bad apartment
a very bad apartment
such a bad apartment
not so bad an apartment
not too bad an apartment
so small an apartment
too hot an apartment | Hear, hear! You're absolutely right, Mike. However, despite his leniency, tdol is not too bad an English teacher. :wink: | | Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes | Linear Mode |
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