Confused with the expression "the world in general".

Ask specific questions about your target languages. Beginner questions welcome!
User avatar
Jamee Zhao
White Belt
Posts: 11
Joined: Tue Sep 11, 2018 8:45 am
Languages: Chinese(N), English(beginner)
x 11

Confused with the expression "the world in general".

Postby Jamee Zhao » Tue Sep 11, 2018 8:58 am

Hi,I am a little bit confused with the expression"the world in general" in the following sentence:

"Oh, dear," he said to the world in general, "I'm in trouble again.

Does it mean that he was talking to himself? :?: I would very much appreciate your help.
0 x

User avatar
patrickwilken
Orange Belt
Posts: 203
Joined: Tue Jul 21, 2015 11:39 am
Location: Berlin
Languages: English (N), German (B2+), Spanish (A1)
Language Log: https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... =15&t=8886
x 505

Re: Confused with the expression "the world in general".

Postby patrickwilken » Tue Sep 11, 2018 9:46 am

Jamee Zhao wrote:Hi,I am a little bit confused with the expression"the world in general" in the following sentence:

"Oh, dear," he said to the world in general, "I'm in trouble again.


Yes. "in general" literally implies he was talking to the whole world, but since that is impossible, he is talking to himself.

You can also say something like "In general, I like...." which means "I usually like something". Or "In general, the trains run on time" means "Usually the trains run on time". Or "In general, politicians are corrupt"... Etc.

In these cases "in general" refers to the tendency of group as a whole, but not to any specific instance.
0 x




German Spanish
1500 Movies : 1389 / 1500100 Movies : 4 / 100
50000 Pages : 41089 / 500005000 Pages : 0 / 5000

All goals to be completed by 31.12.19.

User avatar
devilyoudont
Blue Belt
Posts: 571
Joined: Tue Jun 26, 2018 1:34 am
Location: Philadelphia
Languages: EN (N), EO (C), JA (B), ES (A)
Language Log: https://forum.language-learners.org/vie ... 15&t=16424
x 1829
Contact:

Re: Confused with the expression "the world in general".

Postby devilyoudont » Tue Sep 11, 2018 11:22 am

"said to the world in general" could be rephrased as "said to no one in particular"
5 x

Cainntear
Black Belt - 3rd Dan
Posts: 3469
Joined: Thu Jul 30, 2015 11:04 am
Location: Scotland
Languages: English(N)
Advanced: French,Spanish, Scottish Gaelic
Intermediate: Italian, Catalan, Corsican
Basic: Welsh
Dabbling: Polish, Russian etc
x 8664
Contact:

Re: Confused with the expression "the world in general".

Postby Cainntear » Tue Sep 11, 2018 11:51 pm

devilyoudont wrote:"said to the world in general" could be rephrased as "said to no one in particular"

This is exactly it.
1 x

User avatar
Jamee Zhao
White Belt
Posts: 11
Joined: Tue Sep 11, 2018 8:45 am
Languages: Chinese(N), English(beginner)
x 11

Re: Confused with the expression "the world in general".

Postby Jamee Zhao » Wed Sep 12, 2018 3:37 am

devilyoudont wrote:"said to the world in general" could be rephrased as "said to no one in particular"

Your answer perfectly solves my problem. Thank you so much!
0 x

User avatar
Jamee Zhao
White Belt
Posts: 11
Joined: Tue Sep 11, 2018 8:45 am
Languages: Chinese(N), English(beginner)
x 11

Re: Confused with the expression "the world in general".

Postby Jamee Zhao » Wed Sep 12, 2018 3:40 am

Yes. "in general" literally implies he was talking to the whole world, but since that is impossible, he is talking to himself.

You can also say something like "In general, I like...." which means "I usually like something". Or "In general, the trains run on time" means "Usually the trains run on time". Or "In general, politicians are corrupt"... Etc.

In these cases "in general" refers to the tendency of group as a whole, but not to any specific instance.[/quote]

Got it. Thank you for the examples.
1 x


Return to “Practical Questions and Advice”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests