This discussion is more of an information seeking discussion. I recently had a discussion with one of my cool Russian friends about where we have been been to in each other's countries and he used an adjective phrase which I realized I didn't know how to say in a number of languages. The phrase he used is "a few not so big". So for instance, "a few not so big cities." Let me type a short paragraph here to put it into context.
I've been to points north, such as Williamstown, Vermont and Portland, Maine, to Boston and New York City, and as far south along the eastern coast of the Unites States as Virigina. I've also been to a few not so big cities though. For instance, I've been to Fayetteville, West Virginia, Pittsfield, Lee and Lenox Massachusetts, and Burlington, Vermont.
Anyhow, how do you say this in your language? Perhaps you could even translate the sentence I've also been to a few not so big cities though. for me so I can see how it is used. Thanks. :)
In common Dutch language we’d use a couple of adjectives with diminutive nouns to alternate, literally translated it doesn’t sound right at first. So instead “I’ve also been to a few small cities” would be in Dutch: “Ik ben ook <em>nog</em> naar een paar <em>kleine</em> stadjes geweest”But this sentence can be syntactically analyzed the right way if you know the intonation in which you pronounce the 4<sup>th</sup> word “nog” because that’s an expletive word, it’s pretty much useless, in linguistic terms this is called a particle I guess, I’m not sure. <em>“kleine” </em>is a pleonasm in juxtaposition with “stadjes”, a better alternative is “steden” (plural noun of “stad”).
To be more exact with the task sentence: “a few not so big cities”. Sounds very unnatural even in Dutch: “een paar niet zo grote steden”. I would never use it.
I would say in Russian:
"Также я побывал в нескольких не так (не таких) больших городах."
This phrase demands an information that was sounded before because there is a comparison in the phrase: "not so big the cities as the cities where I've been before".
I noticed you often use the word "though" at the very end of many sentences. The meanings of the word that I know presuppose placing of the word at the beginning of sentences or phrases. Could you please explain your meaning of "though"?
