useful though it may be

[Englishlanguage]

Useful though these responses to tension and over-tiredness may be, we should distinguish between them and conscious relaxation in terms of quality and effect.

Could anybody explain to me the underlined part of the sentence? What about the "though"-construction? How does it work?

Thank you in advance

[riverkid]

Originally Posted by Englishlanguage

Useful though these responses to tension and over-tiredness may be, we should distinguish between them and conscious relaxation in terms of quality and effect.

Could anybody explain to me the underlined part of the sentence? What about the "though"-construction? How does it work?

Thank you in advance

This is the modal verb may being used to denote concession, EL.

M-W:

concession

1 b: the admitting of a point claimed in argument

It means "allowing the possibility that these responses to tension and over-tiredness are useful".

It's used when one doesn't want to argue too strenuously on one point, so they admit that it may be true. This concession is meant to forestall/stop the person, whose opinion it is, from interrupting a further point one wants to make.

A: It's supposed to rain tomorrow.

B: While/Though it may well rain tomorrow, I don't think we should let that spoil the plans for the picnic. We can always move it indoors.

Kinda a dumb example but I hope you get the point.

Here are a ton of examples from a google search for,

"though it may be",

that you can read to further enhance your understanding. Come back with more questions if you feel the need.

" though it may be" - Google Search

While/Though there may be better places to look than on Google, these will nevertheless be very helpful.

[Anglika]

Rephrased:

Although these responses to tension or over-tiredness may be useful

[Englishlanguage]

Originally Posted by riverkid

This is the modal verb may being used to denote concession, EL.



It means "allowing the possibility that these responses to tension and over-tiredness are useful".

It's used when one doesn't want to argue too strenuously on one point, so they admit that it may be true. This concession is meant to forestall/stop the person, whose opinion it is, from interrupting a further point one wants to make.

A: It's supposed to rain tomorrow.

B: While it may well rain tomorrow, I don't think we should let that spoil the plans for the picnic. We can always move it indoors.

Kinda a dumb example but I hope you get the point.

Here are a ton of examples from a google search for,

"though it may be",

that you can read to further enhance your understanding. Come back with more questions if you feel the need.

" though it may be" - Google Search

Thank you for your reply.
Sorry, I'm afraid I didn't make my point clearly. There are no problems as for the meaning. What strikes me is the order of words, which seems pretty unusual to me.

[Englishlanguage]

Originally Posted by Anglika

Rephrased:

Although these responses to tension or over-tiredness may be useful

Thank you, Anglika. Is this kind of order of words common? Could you provide any other example like this?
Can I say, for example, good though his intentions might be instead of although his intentions might be good?

[Anglika]

Yes, this kind of inversion is often found. Essentially, it is a stylistic choice when writing.

[Englishlanguage]

Originally Posted by Anglika

Yes, this kind of inversion is often found. Essentially, it is a stylistic choice when writing.

Ok...thank you!