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Taka

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The sentences:

This scientist suggests that te role of humankind could be pretty insignificant. Does this give us all excuse not to worry about the damage we are doing to the Earth?

About "us all excuse", is it:

(a) Does this give us all excuse...?

or

(b) Does this give us all excuse...?
 
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Casiopea

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Taka said:
The sentences:

This scientist suggests that the role of humankind could be pretty insignificant. Does this give us all excuse not to worry about the damage we are doing to the Earth?

About "us all excuse", is it:

(a) Does this give us all excuse...?

or

(b) Does this give us all excuse...?
Click to expand...

(a) Does this give all of us (an) excuse.... (OK)
(b) Does this give us (an) all excuse.... (i.e., every excuse, OK, an all-purpose excuse.)


All the best, :D
 
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Tdol

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(b) Does this give us (an) all excuse.... (i.e., every excuse, OK, an all-purpose excuse.)

(b) Does this give us all (an) excuse.... (i.e., every excuse, OK, an all-purpose excuse.) ???
;-)
 
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Casiopea

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tdol said:
(b) Does this give us (an) all excuse.... (i.e., every excuse, OK, an all-purpose excuse.)

(b) Does this give us all (an) excuse.... (i.e., every excuse, OK, an all-purpose excuse.) ???
;-)
Click to expand...

But, then, your second (b) is our (a), right? :lol:

tdol's (b): Does this give us all (an) excuse....
Our (b): Does this give us all (an) excuse ~ all of us an excuse.

:wink:
 
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Tdol

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Yep.;-)
 
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Taka

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So (a) is correct?
 
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Casiopea

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Taka said:
So (a) is correct?
Click to expand...

It could be either (a) or (b), Taka. :( Intonantion would really help us out. 8) You wouldn't happened to have it on audio tape, would you?

The writer dropped the article "an", so we're not sure if the article placement should be after "all" or before "all":

(a) us all (an) excuse (Pronoun; everyone involved)
(b) us (an) all excuse (Adjective; all-purpose excuse)

In (a) "all" functions as a pronoun. It defines "us" (i.e. all of us ~ us all), whereas in (b) "all" functions as an adjective in modifying the noun "excuse".

As is, it stands ambiguous. Nonetheless, if I had to choose between the two, I'd opt for (a) given that 'all excuse", a noun phrase, requires an article/determiner; but, then again, if the writer is using "all excuse" is an adjective phrase, then it's acceptable as is. :? Again, intonantion would be the best key here.

All the best, :D
 
N

Natalie27

Guest
Taka said:
The sentences:

This scientist suggests that te role of humankind could be pretty insignificant. Does this give us all excuse not to worry about the damage we are doing to the Earth?

About "us all excuse", is it:

(a) Does this give us all excuse...?

or

(b) Does this give us all excuse...?
Click to expand...


I am not sure about this one since "Does this give us all excuse" just doesn't sound correct to me.
I would definitely put "an excuse" instead if that was up to me or that was MY homework....
I can't really explain why I feel that way...somehow, it doesn't sound right... :lol:
 
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