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Old 01-Sep-2008, 09:03
vil vil is offline
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Default I have no choice for favorable disposition of the expression "of course"

Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough to express your partiality for one of the following three sentences?

Of course it’s dangerous, and particularly so for you.

And I’d done my best, of course, to prevent her.

That’s important, of course.

Thank you for your efforts.

Regards,

V.
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Old 01-Sep-2008, 23:31
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Default Re: I have no choice for favorable disposition of the expression "of course"

Partiality in what way? They are all correct sentences, with acceptable meanings.
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Old 02-Sep-2008, 05:48
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Default Re: I have no choice for favorable disposition of the expression "of course"

It might depend on the degree of assumption; end placement can sometimes be used to include the listener in a more conspiratorial or superior way.
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Old 02-Sep-2008, 07:47
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Default Re: I have no choice for favorable disposition of the expression "of course"

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tdol View Post
It might depend on the degree of assumption; end placement can sometimes be used to include the listener in a more conspiratorial or superior way.
The way to test that scientifically would be to use controlled sentences:
Do these all have the same effect?:

And I’d done my best, of course, to prevent her.
And of course, I’d done my best to prevent her.
And I’d done my best to prevent her, of course.

I'd say it depends on the intonation in speech. In writing, the last one could appear to be an afterthought.
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