English Question - Is this sentence allright?
By diamania
@diamania (7011)
Netherlands
8 responses
@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
28 Feb 10
There are a number of possibilities, all of which are acceptable English, depending on where you want to put the emphasis:
"Even my blind 74-year old grandma would've scored that."
"My blind 74-year old grandma, even, would've scored that."
"My blind 74-year old grandma would've scored that, even."
Your original suggestion:
"My blind 74-year old grandma would've even scored that."
is not really 'good English' for two reasons:
1) because of the rather ugly juxtaposition of the "v" sounds.
2) Grammatically, the 'even' is splitting the verb 'would have scored', which should be thought of as a unit.
@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
28 Feb 10
There is another possibility which would substantially change the meaning:
"My blind 74-year old grandma would've scored even that."
Notice how it changes the emphasis from "My blind 74-year old grandma" to whatever is being scored.
The first sentence implies that whatever was not scored should have been, because even someone who is blind, deaf and gaga (with all due respect to your Grandmother!) would have scored it; the second sentence implies that your grandmother would score things that other people might not!
@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
28 Feb 10
It has since occurred to me that the main objection is probably the sound rather than the grammar because changing the tense to the present conditional would make the sentence something one might possibly hear, even though it is still not good grammar:
"My blind 74-year old grandma would even score that."
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
1 Mar 10
What an excellent response and so illustrative too, with all the possibilities of the sentence changing its meanings just by playing with the word ‘even’! I think I would just ask you next time I have any problems with my English grammar
BTW I would say that the first option with the word ‘even’ at the beginning, best conveys the meaning of the sentence. AND yes, the other possibility as explained by you, with the word ‘even’ at the end, conveys a totally different meaning.
@urbandekay (18278)
•
28 Feb 10
There are 3 considerations here; grammar, the ring of the sentence and the emphasis implied by the construction. Whilst there are a number of correct constructions that could be made, normal English usage would be as your friend suggests because that construction emphasises the fact that the speaker is intending to convey that the act was so very easy. Since the reference to his aged relative devoid of visionary capacity is a hyperbole and not meant to be taken entirely literally.
all the best urban
@urbandekay (18278)
•
2 Mar 10
Actually, there is no jargon in my answer but perhaps you mean terminology?
all the best urban
@livewyre (2450)
•
1 Mar 10
The emphasis should surely be on the 'Even'
Even my grandma would have scored that... is the proper emphasis IMO...the rest is just embelishment.
If you say 'My grandma would've even scored that' whilst it makes some sort of sense, the emphasis sound much better at the start of the sentence and conveys the meaning immediately.
Besides which I don't think your blind 74 year-old grandma made the squad...
@livewyre (2450)
•
2 Mar 10
Sure... Owlwings gave a very expansive answer, but I think everyone concludes that the one that start 'Even' is probably the best option - feel free to pose more discussion like this - I am sure all of us who have English as our first language deeply admire the efforts that others make to speak our mother tongue correctly - and indeed many speak it far better than some of those that were born and educated in English speaking environments... I don't have much of a grasp on any other language, but my daughter is being educated bi-lingually, so I have a particular interest in language.
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
28 Feb 10
hi diamania both sentences are correct, but are you doubting the grammar of it or the sense of it in that it would likely be thAT his blind grandma might not at all be able to score whatever it is that he's talking about?
his blind grandma might not at all be able to score whatever it is that he's talking about?
@chrystaltears (3392)
• United States
1 Mar 10
They are both ok, but I was wondering about that dash. Shouldn't it be between year and old?
@arakawaii (270)
• Philippines
1 Mar 10
I guess the second was more clearer than the first one... Cause the first was a little bit confusing.
@mysdianait (66005)
• Italy
28 Feb 10
Both are correct but the second option places more emphasis on the situation.
@freeboy90 (456)
• Italy
28 Feb 10
It'd say the second one is correct : " Even my blind 74 years old would have scored that. Whoever told you was right :p :) The first sentence doesn't sound right and doesn't sound nice. I think the others will say the same thing . good luck
Happy Mylotting.
