Theiling Online    Sitemap    Conlang Mailing List HQ   

Re: composite preposition with two opposite meanings

From:Ph.D. <phil@...>
Date:Sunday, July 30, 2006, 3:45
Eric Christopherson wrote:
> > I forgot about another expression where the presence > or absence of "the" matters - "in case of" vs. "in the > case of." "Wear galoshes in case of rain" means to > wear galoshes regardless of whether it actually rains > or not, because it might; whereas "wear galoshes in > the case of rain" means only to wear them if it does > in fact rain.
[snip] Something similar happens with "few." Consider: If you put that book on eBay, there'll be few takers. i.e., I believe no one will be interested. But If you put that book on eBay, there'll be a few takers. i.e., I believe several people will be interested. "few" vs. "a few" --Ph. D.