Search from various Engels teachers...
JOSEPH
how to interpret "as it happens,......"
An electric razor that meets the European Union's safety standards must be approved by American testers before it can be sold in the United States, and an American-made dialysis machine needs the EU's okay before it hit the market in Europe. *As it happens*, a razor that is safe in Europe is unlikely to electrocute Americans. (From: The Economist)
Could you please interpret it and use other expressions to replace it?
Thank you so much!
4 mei 2010 03:23
Antwoorden · 3
Joseph,
"As it happens" is used to introduce a statement, usually a suprising statement.
The author of the article suggests that it is suprising that the Americans must test European electric razors a second time, when it is unlikely that these razors will electrocute Americans.
The safety of European razors is America is not a given because in the US electric appliances are adapted to a 120volt current, while Europe appliances use a 250volt current. If one of these razors does cause harm to a purchaser in the US, you can be sure that the company will be sued for millions of dollars. However, it is possible to make electronic products, computers for example, that can use either 120volt or 250volt currents.
'Actually' or "as a matter of fact" would be a good synonyms for "as it happens" in the context of your sentence because either of these can be used to introduce something unexpected or suprising.
Example,
Actually, I'm not a real doctor, although I play one on TV.
I was not a poor student, as a matter of fact, I graduated first in my class.
7 mei 2010
A variant is "as it so happens..."
You use it to connect the following statement to what you've just said, like an additional comment which summarises your main point(s).
You could also use, "for that matter, ..."
4 mei 2010
You might say "In fact..."
Another way of putting it (in a more wordy way) is "The actual truth is that..."
4 mei 2010
Heb je je antwoorden nog steeds niet gevonden?
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JOSEPH
Taalvaardigheden
Chinees (Mandarijn), Engels
Taal die wordt geleerd
Engels
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