[Vocabulary] More of an effort

Hello!

Can't you make more of an effort? (Longman)

I can't understand the expression ‘more of an effort’.
How does the sentence differ from ‘Can't you make more effort?’?

Thanks in advance

Kazuo said:

Hello!

Can't you make more of an effort? (Longman)

I can't understand the expression ‘more of an effort’.
How does the sentence differ from ‘Can't you make more effort?’?

Thanks in advance

Click to expand...

It doesn't differ in meaning from "Can't you make more effort?" It's just one of those phrases we use!

Hi there,

Is there any difference between the two expressions in tone or usage?
1.Can't you make more of an effort?
2. Can't you make more effort?’?

tks
pete

peter123 said:

Hi there,

Is there any difference between the two expressions in tone or usage?
1.Can't you make more of an effort?
2. Can't you make more effort?’?

tks
pete

Click to expand...

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Good morning, Peter.

(1) I was just thinking the same thing.

(2) Grammatically, they are different, of course.

You + cannot make + more (pronoun) + of an effort (prepositional phrase).

You + cannot make + more (adjective) + effort (noun).

(3) In pronunciation, there would also be an difference in which word is emphasized:

Can't you make MORE of an effort?

Can't you make more EFFORT?

(4) Above all, however, I think that native speakers would be more

inclined to say:

Can't you make more of an effort?

or

Can't you give it a little more effort?

Of course, I may be wrong, but I feel that many native speakers would

not be that comfortable with "Can't you make more effort?"

Have a nice day!

:up: Or, idiomatically, 'Can't you pull your weight?'

b

peter123 said:

Hi there,

Is there any difference between the two expressions in tone or usage?
1.Can't you make more of an effort?
2. Can't you make more effort?’?

tks
pete

Click to expand...

2 is correct but the first, or an alternative like Bob's, sound more natural. I don't think I'd use 2.

Can't you make more effort?’?

Can't you put in more effort? - does this sound more natural?

tedtmc said:

Can't you make more effort?’?

Can't you put in more effort? - does this sound more natural?

Click to expand...

It does, but only relatively. ;-) 'Can't you put your back into it?' is the sort of idiom I'd use instead of 'Can't you put in more [of an] effort?'.

b