You're no help

Hello.

How's it going today?

I watched the movie where a couple of guys were chatting in a bar. Presently, one of them turned around and nicked a mug of beer from a man sitting near by and went on chatting. Then the guy who owned the beer said it was his drink but he was met a rude reply from the beer thief. The guy to whom the beer thief was chatting said, 'You're no help'. Did he mean that his mate causes problems?

I'd appreciate any comments you might have.
Also, it would be nice if you would proofread that story sketch, because I'm not sure if I have written it right.

Thanks in advance,
Alex.

AlexAD said:

Did he mean that his mate causes problems?

I'd appreciate any comments you might have.

Click to expand...

I would say so, yes.

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• The word 'Presently' doesn't sound right in that context. Omit it.
• Note the spelling here, a mug of [STRIKE]bear[/STRIKE] beer
• Instead of 'he was given a rude reply', which is fine, you could try, he was met with a rude reply
• If you want, you could use more colloquial-sounding phrases here:
  • the guy who owned the beer instead of 'the victim'
  • the guy who nicked the beer or the beer thief instead of 'the robber'

Thank you, Soup, for your reply.

May I ask you why presently can't be used here with the meaning of something had happened after a short time?
If you insist on dropping that out what else should we use here? Would now be OK?

Thanks,
Alex.

AlexAD said:

May I ask you why presently can't be used here with the meaning of something had [STRIKE]been[/STRIKE] happened after a short time?

If you insist on dropping that out what else should we use here? [STRIKE]Is[/STRIKE]Would now [STRIKE]would[/STRIKE] be OK?

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'Now' doesn't fit the meaning you want either. By the way, 'presently' doesn't mean "had [STRIKE]been[/STRIKE] happened after a short time". It means at this time; e.g., I am presently engaged/I am engaged at this time.


There are two meanings you could use in that context: (1) 'all of a sudden' (meaning, without warning) or (2) 'out of the blue' (meaning, for no reason at all):

Sorry, but I can't agree with you on that.

I'm posting an excerpt from the OALD, 8th editon that will back me up on what I'm saying:

2 used to show that sth happened after a short time

Presently, the door opened again and three men stepped out.

In this meaning presently usually comes at the beginning of a sentence.

AlexAD said:

Sorry, but I can't agree with you on that.

I'm posting an excerpt from the OALD, 8th editon... .

Click to expand...

You need to check the stats of the teachers who reply to your posts. I am from Canada, not the UK. :-D I do not speak British English (BrE) and so my advice will not be based on BrE.

I take your point and of course I appreciated that you were Canadian and so you speak AmE.

But despite this I didn't find anywhere of the meaning concerning BrE only.

Thank you, Soup, for correcting my posts.

Thanks,

Alex

I've modified the story sketch, here:

A couple of guys were chatting in a bar. Presently, one of them, turning around, he nicked a mug of beer from a man next to him and went on chatting. Then the beer owner revolted but was met a rude reply from the thief. The guy to whom the hustler (or what do they call them?) was chatting said, 'You're no help'.

How do you feel about it now?

Thanks,
Alex.