Alberto S
though/as it may (be/seem) Hello, I've been struggling with this structure in different sentences. I can understand that is used to change the emphasis but I'm not able to find any grammar rule that I can follow. "Although this exercise may seem boring, it is useful" -> "Boring though this exercise may seem, it is useful". "Although it's cold, we're still going rowing" -> "Cold though it may be, we are still going rowing". "Even if it rains, we won't cancel the match" -> "Rain though/as it may, the match won't be cancelled". Particularly, I'd like to know: - whether I can use "though" or "as" in every use of that structure - why isn't there a verb after "may" in the last sentence? And how can it be used this structure in this way? The sentences above are from the textbook "Spotlight on Advanced (Second Edition)" but there's no further explanation.
8 mag 2017 11:16
Risposte · 4
hi there Alberto! :-) "Although this exercise may seem boring, it is useful" "Although it's cold, we're still going rowing" "Even if it rains, we won't cancel the match" all three are correct and what you would normally say. "Boring though this exercise may seem, it is useful". "Cold though it may be, we are still going rowing". "Rain though/as it may, the match won't be cancelled". these are correct too, but formal and old-fashioned. You can speak like this, but not really in everyday speech. Particularly, I'd like to know: - whether I can use "though" or "as" in every case this is a bit complicated to explain here. - why isn't there a verb after "may" in the last sentence? And how can it be used this structure in this way? Because you are basically saying the same sentence in a different way. You could say: "It may rain, but the match won't be cancelled." but instead this says "Rain thought it may, the match won't be cancelled." it is the same sense in both sentences. :-)
8 maggio 2017
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