[Grammar] I can't think of it off hand.

[anhnha]

Hello,
Could you tell me what is the function of "off-hand" in the following sentence?

1. I can't think of it off hand.
Is "off-hand" here adjective? Is the below sentence full one of the above?
2. I can't think of it that is off hand.
Thank you!

 

[bhaisahab]

Hello,
Could you tell me what is the function of "off-hand" in the following sentence?

1. I can't think of it off hand.
Is "off-hand" here adjective? Is the below sentence full one of the above?
2. I can't think of it that is off hand.
Thank you!

It's an adverb in #1. Have a look here: offhand adverb - definition in British English Dictionary & Thesaurus - Cambridge Dictionary Online
#2 is not a correct sentence.

 

[anhnha]

Thank you.
Is this sentence correct?
I can't think of any off hand.
Does "any" mean "anything"?
I can't think of anything off hand.
I think after "of" we have to use a noun but "any" here is adverb.

 

[riquecohen]

Thank you.
Is this sentence correct?
I can't think of any off hand. Yes.
Does "any" mean "anything"? Yes, or any one.
I can't think of anything off hand.
I think after "of" we have to use a noun but "any" here is adverb.

I would say that any in this context is an adjective. "Can you suggest any good restaurants in this area?"
"I can't think of any (good restaurants) off hand."

 

[TheParser]

Does "any" mean "anything"?

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



Hello,


I just want to congratulate you on being such a good student.

You might like to know that many (!) years ago, "anything" was spelled as two words: any thing.

Thus, as riquecohen told us, the adjective "any" could refer to any noun:

Do you happen to know of any barbers offhand?
I can't think of any politicians offhand that I admire.
Can you recommend a grammar helpline offhand? (Of course, I can!)


James

 

[anhnha]

Thank you for encouraging me, TheParser:
Can I ask you some questions that make me confused?
I can't think of any politicians offhand that I admire.
In the above sentence, I think that offhand is an adverb and it modifies the verb "think". And if so, can I put "offhand" before or after "think" like this?
I can't offhand think of any politicians that I admire.
OR
I can't think offhand of any politicians that I admire.

 

[TheParser]

I can't think of any politicians offhand that I admire.
In the above sentence, I think that offhand is an adverb and it modifies the verb "think". And if so, can I put "offhand" before or after "think" like this?
I can't offhand think of any politicians that I admire.
OR
I can't think offhand of any politicians that I admire.

***** NOT A TEACHER *****Wow! What a great student you are. When I typed that sentence, I debated with myself where to place the adverb.

As you know, adverbs can be placed in many positions.

As a non-teacher, I must be very careful not to give out wrong information.

1. "I can't offhand think of any politicians that I admire." Personally, I am pretty sure that some native speakers would accept this -- especially, if one paused before and after the adverb.

2. "I can't think offhand of any politicians that I admire." I think that this sentence of yours is probably better than the one that I chose for my first post, for it keeps the adjective clause ("that I admire") right after the word ("politicians") that it modifies.

(Remember: if any teacher disagrees with my views, s/he is correct, not I.)


James

 

[Chicken Sandwich]

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

I believe that you can also say, 'Offhand, I can't think of any politicians that I admire.'

 

[anhnha]

Thank you very much!
I appreciate your help and comments.
Now I can use it, without a doubt.