Forum newsfeeds 
|  | | Notices | You are welcome to answer questions posted in the Ask a Teacher forum as long as your suggestions, help, and advice reflect a good understanding of the English language. If you are not a teacher, you will need to state that clearly at the top of your post. Please note, all posts are moderated by our in-house language experts, so make sure your suggestions, help, and advice house the kind of information an international language teacher would offer. If not, and your posts do not contribute to the topic in a positive way, they will be subject to deletion. | 
10-Aug-2008, 21:10
| | Newbie | | Join Date: Aug 2008 Country: Singapore
Posts: 7
Current Location: Singapore First Language: Chinese Member Type: Other Thanks: 8
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
| |  The usage of "Also"
Dear teachers,
I still can't master the usage of "also"
I happened to read the following three sentences with answers from a forum a few days ago by chance. According to what they said: "The meaning of a sentence can be different when the word "also" is written at different position." Though I have a book of Swan Practical English Usage with me (Printed on year 1997, Second edition 1995), non of the explanations from the book under the entries of (also) and ( also, as well as, too) looks similar to what the three sentences and answers described.
I doubt the structure of the sentences and meanings are all correct. Especially sentence 3. I thought "also" cannot be placed at the end of a sentence. Could you kindly explain them in detail? And I want to know the difference between "is also" and "also is".
Here are the three sentences with answers I copied from that forum:
1. William is also concerned in this matter.
= William is concerned in this matter as well as that one．
2. William also is concerned in this matter.
=William is concerned in this matter，just as somebody else is．
3. William is concerned in this matter also.
=This matter is the last of many that have been mentioned．
Your explanation will be very much appreciated!  |
10-Aug-2008, 21:24
| | Member | | Join Date: Aug 2008 Country: tunisia
Posts: 122
Current Location: tunisia First Language: arabic and french Member Type: Student or Learner Thanks: 0
Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts
| | Re: The usage of "Also"
The meaning of also in this 3 sentences is too but also can mean and.
In the previous 3 sentences you can replace the also by too and you get the same meaning | | The Following User Says Thank You to awatef For This Useful Post: | |
10-Aug-2008, 23:15
|  | Moderator | | Join Date: Feb 2003 Country: USA
Posts: 14,454
Current Location: North Carolina First Language: English Member Type: Other Thanks: 85
Thanked 1,198 Times in 1,065 Posts
| | Re: The usage of "Also"
The word "too" cannot be used in as many places in a sentence as "also" can. At least, it doesn't necessarily mean the same thing as "too". For example, "William is too concerned with this matter" might be in response to a denial. 
__________________
~R | | The Following User Says Thank You to RonBee For This Useful Post: | |
11-Aug-2008, 00:21
|  | Key Member | | Join Date: Jun 2008 Country: Australia
Posts: 3,187
Current Location: Brisbane First Language: English Member Type: Academic Thanks: 46
Thanked 1,388 Times in 1,279 Posts
| | Re: The usage of "Also"
Quote:
Originally Posted by RonBee  "William is too concerned with this matter" might be in response to a denial. | Without the correct intonation, this means "William is overly concerned with this matter", as opposed to:
"William is too! concerned with this matter". |
11-Aug-2008, 00:41
| | Key Member | | Join Date: Jun 2008 Country: Australia
Posts: 3,187
Current Location: Brisbane First Language: English Member Type: Academic Thanks: 46
Thanked 1,388 Times in 1,279 Posts
| | Re: The usage of "Also"
Quote:
Originally Posted by BlueRay Here are the three sentences with answers I copied from that forum:
1. William is also concerned in this matter.
= William is concerned in this matter as well as that one．
Yes, it could also mean (Also William) is concerned ... as in 2.
2. William also is concerned in this matter.
=William is concerned in this matter，just as somebody else is．
Same comment as above.
3. William is concerned in this matter also.
=This matter is the last of many that have been mentioned．
Yes, and it can also mean 1. and 2.
| In speech, the meaning of "also" is often signified by the intonation. 1. William is also concerned in this matter.
2. William also is concerned in this matter.
3. William is concerned in this matter also.
In writing, it's less obvious, since "also" can refer to what comes before it, after it, or something at the other end of the sentence from it. In some cases, you have to spell it out, as you have done in your explanations.
That doesn't help with reading though.
"William, also, is concerned in this matter" will mean 2.
"Also, William is concerned in this matter" means something different altogether, eg. "Apart from other considerations, William is concerned in this matter".
Sometimes you can only tell from the context. |
11-Aug-2008, 10:02
| | Newbie | | Join Date: Aug 2008 Country: Singapore
Posts: 7
Current Location: Singapore First Language: Chinese Member Type: Other Thanks: 8
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
| | Re: The usage of "Also"
Quote:
Originally Posted by Raymott Without the correct intonation, this means "William is overly concerned with this matter", as opposed to:
"William is too! concerned with this matter". | Big Thanks! |
11-Aug-2008, 10:06
| | Newbie | | Join Date: Aug 2008 Country: Singapore
Posts: 7
Current Location: Singapore First Language: Chinese Member Type: Other Thanks: 8
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
| | Re: The usage of "Also"
Quote:
Originally Posted by Raymott In speech, the meaning of "also" is often signified by the intonation.
1. William is also concerned in this matter.
2. William also is concerned in this matter.
3. William is concerned in this matter also.
In writing, it's less obvious, since "also" can refer to what comes before it, after it, or something at the other end of the sentence from it. In some cases, you have to spell it out, as you have done in your explanations.
That doesn't help with reading though.
"William, also, is concerned in this matter" will mean 2.
"Also, William is concerned in this matter" means something different altogether, eg. "Apart from other considerations, William is concerned in this matter".
Sometimes you can only tell from the context. | Great explanation!
Thank you very much! |
11-Aug-2008, 23:09
| | Moderator | | Join Date: Feb 2003 Country: USA
Posts: 14,454
Current Location: North Carolina First Language: English Member Type: Other Thanks: 85
Thanked 1,198 Times in 1,065 Posts
| | Re: The usage of "Also"
Quote:
Originally Posted by BlueRay Great explanation! | Indeed! 
__________________
~R | | Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes |  Linear Mode | 
Posting Rules
| You may post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off | | | All times are GMT. The time now is 07:50. | |
