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"... would have you believe"
Recently I read the idiom "... would have you believe".
Example: The rule is not as essential as books would have you believe.
My question: Would it be grammatically correct to express the same meaning with another grammar structure?
Example: The rule is not as essential as books want to make you believe.
Without knowing the exact differences in the meaning of the two sentences, I feel they are almost interchangeable. Am I right? Would you please explain it?
Feb 15, 2020 4:29 PM
Answers · 6
1
Yes, that's pretty much exactly what it means. :)
Another example: "The product is not as good as the company would have you believe." = "The product is not as good as the company wants you to believe it is." (In other words, the company tries to convince people that the product is better than it really is.)
February 15, 2020
Thank you, Christine.
February 16, 2020
both make sense to me and are well phrased. well done.
February 15, 2020
Danke, Andrew. :-)
February 15, 2020
Your example makes sense to me:). Good job!
February 15, 2020
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