in a change of subject

Status
Not open for further replies.

cecillian

Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2014
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Georgian
Home Country
Georgia
Current Location
Georgia
Hello every one,
When people use"in a change of subject" do they mean"in order of changing the subject" or "because of changing the subject" or "to change the subject"? Does "in" here has the meaning of"because"?
Example: "John stood up,in a change of subject, and walked around the office"
Thank you.
 
Your example sentence doesn't make sense. Do you have any other examples of the use of the phrase?
 
Can the OP's sentence mean 'John stood up while changing the subject and walked around the office'?
 
Can the OP's sentence mean 'John stood up while changing the subject and walked around the office'?

The OP might possibly mean that. We won't know unless s/he tells us.
 
Can the OP's sentence mean 'John stood up while changing the subject and walked around the office'?

It would require more context - the subjects - to get this meaning. As it stands, it doesn't make much sense.
 
yes,sure.
Here are two examples:
1.Finally, Janelle, in a change of subject, pours her heart out about her weight loss struggles and admits that “I’m an emotional eater. I eat during stress.”


2.She said"We sent your dad to camp once,...When back he was stone quiet...It was a terrible lonely thing we did to such a tiny boy....She now rose from her seat,in a change of subject, and walked around the room as if she were in a play. She said "when I was at the conservatory,well I'd gone there after much turmoil in my life"
3.
Man: Did you see those dogs? They sniffed through my bags!
Me: Grunt.
Man: People should control their dogs, shouldn’t they!
Me: Grunt.
Man: Don’t you think it is an invasion of privacy that dogs will sniff through my bags?
Me: Certainly.
Thankfully, the bus then arrived, resulting in a change of subject. We got on the bus, and then further horrors, he sat near me! What would I do?
4.[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]The Virgin with the children gives, as we shall see, a first hint of the composition of the Virgin of the Rocks. Yet, as a whole, the lost Adoration, in contrast to the Uffizi picture, must have come from the surface of Leonardo's imagination. [/FONT]
1x1.gif

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]Externally this contrast is expressed in a change of subject. The fable of the Adoring Shepherds is abandoned in favour of the allegory of the Adoring Kings.
Ps. These are all example I have. I think of two choices. "WHILE changing the subject" or " for changing the subject". I will thank you again for you responses.
[/FONT]
 
Last edited:
Where is that text from, cecillian?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Ask a Teacher

If you have a question about the English language and would like to ask one of our many English teachers and language experts, please click the button below to let us know:

(Requires Registration)
Back
Top