Page 32 - Basic English Usage
P. 32

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               26  allright

                    We  usually  write  all  right  as  two  separate  words  in  British  English.
                    (Alright  is  possible  in  American  English).
                      Everything  will  be  all  right.


               27   almost  and  nearly

                1   There  is  not  usualiy  much  difference  between  almost  and  nearly,  and  we
                    can  often  use  both  with  the  same  meaning.
                      ive  nearly  finished.   —_/'ve  almost  finished.
                    Sometimes  almost  is a  little  ‘nearer  than  nearly.

                                                       nearly
                                                        there





                2   Wedonot  usually  use  nearly  with  negative  words:  never,  nobody,  no-
                    one,  nothing,  nowhere,  no  and  none.
                    instead,  we  use  almost,  or  we  use  hardly  with  ever,  anybody,  etc.  (See
                    150.2.)
                      almost  NeVer(NOT  nearynever)   hardly  ever
                      almost  nobody              hardly  anybody
                      almost  no  money           hardly  any  money


               28   also,  as  well  and  too

                     clause  +  as  well
                     clause  +  too

                     subject  +  be  +  a/so  +  complement

                1   As  well  and  too  usually  come  at  the  end  of  aclause.  They  mean  the  same.
                      She  not  only  sings;  she  plays  the  piano  as  well.
                      We  all  went  to  Brighton  yesterday.  John  came  too.
                    As  well  and  too  can  refer  to  (‘point  to’)  different  parts  of  the  sentence,
                    depending  on  the  meaning.  Consider  the  sentence:  We  have  meetings
                    on  Sundays  as  well.  This  can  mean  three  different  things:

                    a  (Other  people  have  meetings  on  Sundays,  and)

                       !                      +,
                      we  have  meetings  on  Sundays  as  well.
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