let alone my legs

[saramehr]

hi, teacher

whats the meaning of this

If it can save Ling, I can give up my life
let alone my legs


so thanks!

 

[The French]

hi, teacher

whats the meaning of this

If it can save Ling, I can give up my life
let alone my legs

Hello, (I am not a teacher),

but I would like to know if 'let alone my legs' follow I can give up my life?
Can you give us the context?

Bye,

 

[Barb_D]

The phrase "let alone" introduces something that is larger or smaller than the main point.

In this case, the person is willing to sacrifice his life. Apparently he is being asked to sacrifice only his legs. He's willing to sacrifice his life, a much bigger sacrifice than his legs.

You can turn this around too. He's told he has to sacrifice his legs and that it might kill him to do so. He will not make this sacrifice. "Hell no! I'm not willing to sacrifice my legs, let alone my life!"

Let's say you won a prize and it's a family vacation. You would have been happy with 2nd place, airline tickets, but you won the grand prize, an entire vacation. You would been happy with just the tickets, let alone the entire vacation.

You don't like your husband's cousin very much, but you think his children are even worse. You say "It will be bad enough having him here, let alone those awful brats as well!"

 

[The French]

Hello teacher,

If I understand well your explanation 'let alone' in some means that one part of something is enough like the legs on the question or the tickets in one of your examples.

Am I right?

Thanks.

 

[saramehr]

????

 

[Barb_D]

It means "This smaller bit [makes me happy][makes me angry][excites me][is okay with me]. So obviously the bigger bit also [makes me happy][makes me angry], etc."

Plane tickets would make me happy. So of course, plane tickets AND the vacation make me happy too.

Your cousin makes me mad. Naturally, your cousin AND his wretched children will make me mad too.

I'm not willing to give up my legs, so of course I'm not willing to give up my life!

Do you want to try one?

I'm happy to spend an hour with you, let alone ________________.
I'm happy I got any job offer at all, let alone __________________.

 

[The French]

Hello teacher, I try, but it is a bit difficult.

I'm happy to spend an hour with you, let alone day. Is it okay?
I'm happy I got any job offer at all, let alone more jobs.

I'm a little confused with this both word 'let alone'. Your explanation is clear but it's hard for me to use it.

See you later.

 

[saramehr]

hey , can i add you on msn messenger?

 

[Barb_D]

Hello teacher, I try, but it is a bit difficult.

I'm happy to spend an hour with you, let alone day. Is it okay?
I'm happy I got any job offer at all, let alone more jobs.

I'm a little confused with this both word 'let alone'. Your explanation is clear but it's hard for me to use it.

See you later.

Very close!
... let alone a day.
You could have said "let alone two jobs" or "three jobs" or "such a wonderful job as this."

 

[IHIVG]

Hello teacher, I try, but it is a bit difficult.

I'm happy to spend an hour with you, let alone day. Is it okay?
I'm happy I got any job offer at all, let alone more jobs.

I'm a little confused with this both word 'let alone'. Your explanation is clear but it's hard for me to use it.

See you later.

Would the phrase 'not to mention' be of any help to you? I think in most cases, these two are used interchangeably.
We're too busy to take a day off not to mention/let alone a long holiday.

 

[The French]

Very close!
... let alone a day.
You could have said "let alone two jobs" or "three jobs" or "such a wonderful job as this."

Thanks for your exercices, now it's clear.

Have a nice day.