Monday, August 13, 2007
How Does It Work?
When you say, "I didn't even [something], let alone [something else]!" which thing comes first, the greater one or the lesser one? Like would I say, "I wasn't in the PTA last year, let alone on a committee!" or would I say, "I wasn't on a committee last year, let alone in the PTA!" How does that work?
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2 comments:
Since the one (not joining the PTA) excludes the other (being on a committee)I wouldn't use the even/let alone expression. In general, though, the lesser item would come first since even implies that it's the very least or very basic, and the greater would follow let alone.
I may or may not be agreeing with the grandpa (not sure) but I think that the PTA would come before the committee. You couldn't be on a committee (in the PTA) withough being IN the PTA in the first place. Nor could you be on a committee at all, without having an organization/task that required one to be formed. Moomsie
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