Under no circumstances

Status
Not open for further replies.

Nightmare85

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
German
Home Country
Germany
Current Location
Germany
Hey guys,
I have a specific question about this sentence:
Under no circumstances - whatsoever - am I gonna go down there and back for that truck bet.
(It could be the case that I've not completely understood the rest of the sentence.)

Usually we use subject - predicate.
Why is this an exception?

And what about these sentences?
I'm going to the mall under no circumstances.
Under no circumstances am I going to the mall.

Would both be correct?

Cheers!
 

phrasemix

Junior Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Hi Nightmare85,
This is just a set expression that we tend to use in this way: "Under no circumstances will I..."

Your question:
And what about these sentences?
I'm going to the mall under no circumstances.
Under no circumstances am I going to the mall.
Would both be correct?
The first one is awkward. If you want to begin the sentence with the subject, you can write "I'm not going to the mall under any circumstances." The second is fine.
 

sarat_106

Key Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2008
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
Oriya
Home Country
India
Current Location
India
And what about these sentences?
I'm going to the mall under no circumstances.
Under no circumstances am I going to the mall.
Would both be correct?

Cheers!

Both sentences are correct. This expression is just another way saying absolutely not/never idiomatically.
You can just for a change replace by the normal adverbs in your sentences.
I'm absolutely nevergoing to the mall.
Am I absolutely not going to the mall?
You can notice the dullness of the sentences with the normal words and the effectiveness with the use of the idiomatic expression
 

Nightmare85

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
German
Home Country
Germany
Current Location
Germany
Thank you guys!

However, I still have a small question.
"Under no circumstances" sounds like 100%.
So wouldn't it better only to use the gerund?

phrasemix said:
This is just a set expression that we tend to use in this way: "Under no circumstances will I..."
This confuses me a little bit, because I thought will should not be used when something is 100% clear.
(In this case that someone is definitely not going to...)

Cheers!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top