Unit 37. I Can't Stand the Stuff.
Non-Prominence on Final Vague Expressions
Unit 37; Part A
Vague expressions are often used in conversation when we don't needto be exact or precise. Many of these expressions are found at the endof a speech unit (see Unit 33 and Unit 34). They are usually non-prominent, following a prominent word. When we refer to something already mentioned, we can use the stuff (for uncountable nouns), the place(s) and the thing(s) (for countable nouns). Very ofen, some criticism is intended: A: I've got some apple juice. Do you want some? B: No, I can't STAND the stuff. Jack seems to spend all his time in his bedroom. Never LEAVES the place. My car's always breaking down. I HATE the thing. We can use these words with sort of to show that we have just given examples of a larger group of things. Ofen we use (all) this/that/these/those before sort of: Before we could use the laboratory, we had to learn about safety and all THAT sort of stuff. The book's about corruption in sport - taking bribes, placing illegal bets and all THIS sort of thing. When we were in Rome we were taken to museums, art galleries and THOSE sorts of places. We can use and stuff and things and and places in a similar way to refer in a general way to things and places without giving any further detail: I bought some CHEESE and stuff. We went through Berlin, BONN and places. The phrase and that is used to mean that other things were involved, without specifing more precisely what: A: Where's Kate? B: She's gone upstairs to do her HAIR and that. |
Unit 37; Part B
We use or something/anything (etc.) to make what we have just said more vague or indirect: Didn't she use to be a VET or something? He went off with KEN or somebody. Isn't there any chocolate in the FRIDGE or anywhere? Let me know if you want any HELP or anything. In a similar way we can use or something/anything (etc.) like that: A: Linda seems very lonely. B: Doesn't she ever go out with FRIENDS or anything like that? |
Unit 37; Part C
The phrases or and + whatever/whenever/wherever/whoever are used to make a statement more informal or less direct: We could meet about TEN or whenever. When we move into the flat, we might change the carpets and LIGHTS and whatever. |
Unit 37; Part D
The phrase or so is used with expressions of number and time to make them less precise: A: How long will it take? B: About a WEEK or so. We'd been driving for an hour, but we'd only gone a MILE or so. Note: Words like thing, place, something, whenever, etc. are not only used in vague expressions. For example: This is the place I used to live. What's this thing for? We'll leave whenever you want. |
Exercises
| Unit 36 Unit 37 Unit 38 | |