questions

[Anonymous]

I pasted this from the previous englishpage.com forum.

Hello! It's been a while since I've posted on this board. Could you explain me these questions and correct if any sentence is wrong.
Thank you in advance as always!


1.1 The questions we have brought up were mostly answered by Tom and Sam.
1.2 The questions we have brought up were answered mostly by Tom and Sam.

Does the position of the adverb "mostly" change the meaning of the sentence?

Does sentence 1.1 mean that almost all of the questions asked were answered, or the questions asked were answered by Tom and Sam almost all the time and sometimes by other people.

2.1 a two-week time of suffering(s)
2.2 two week's time of suffering(s)

Are the two phrases different from each other?

3. Make the wrong choice and you could buy the farm.
What does the sentence portray? Is "buy the farm" an idiomatic expression?

4.1 I could have had that car.
4.2 I could have had had that car.

5. That girl is a flake! ( meaning?)


[ This message was edited by: raven on: 2-25-2004 11:48 ]

[Camilus]

Hello, raven
I think you won't mind if I try to help you out. I will answer to the things that can dispel all the doubts, for the rest, you will have to wait for Pete and Rusty.

2.1 a two-week time of suffering(s)
2.2 two week's time of suffering(s)

Are the two phrases different from each other? (I'd say they mean the same.)

3. Make the wrong choice and you could buy the farm.
What does the sentence portray? Is "buy the farm" an idiomatic expression? I think this sentence means: If you make a wrong choice, you will die. Check out this one for more information: http://www.snopes.com/language/phrases/farm.htm

4.1 I could have had that car. (OK)
4.2 I could have had had that car. (No)

5. That girl is a flake! ( meaning?)
(Flake is probably an American slang which means that one's behaviour is bizarre. It can also describe a person that can't be trusted as regards remembering things.)

[Anonymous]

Thx Sam. Your answers are more than welcome :)