English grammar questions, answered by Alan
Moderator: Alan
Lie.K.
Rising Star
Posts: 57 Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2004 3:01 pm
Post
by Lie.K. » Wed Sep 01, 2004 2:03 pm
Hello :)
I'd like to ask about how to use "more".
Would you take a look at the following sentences?
1) If I had studied harder, I could have passed the exam.
2) If I had studied more, I could have passed the exam.
Can I use "more" instead of " harder"? If so, do they express the same meaning?
Thank you.
Lie K.
Dixie
Top Contributor
Posts: 3836 Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2004 2:08 pm
Status: Teacher of English
Location: Catalunya
Post
by Dixie » Wed Sep 01, 2004 2:19 pm
Yeah you can use both, but the meaning would be slightly different.
Alan
Teacher/Moderator
Posts: 15257 Joined: Mon Dec 29, 2003 7:56 pm
Status: Teacher of English
Location: Japan
Post
by Alan » Thu Sep 02, 2004 3:56 am
As Dixie says, the meanings could be different: 'more' could refer to the 'range' of material studied or else the amount of time spent, while 'harder' refers purely to the level of effort.