Kate
What is the correct variant? 1) You are quite the busy lady. 2) You are quite a busy lady. And why?
6 Thg 10 2018 15:25
Câu trả lời · 4
2
It is both correct, only the context is slightly different. In my opinion, sentence 1 is more about a personality "the busy lady", the one and only. In sentence 2 it is about a lady that is busy, with possibly more busy ladies. If that makes sense?
6 tháng 10 năm 2018
2
Hi Kate! This is an interesting one! Both are technically correct, but there is a big difference in style and inference between the two. "You are quite a busy lady." is a good, flat, respectful way of putting it - but see my note about "lady" below. "You are quite the busy lady." is a more archaic way of saying it, but today it has a bit of a playful, sarcastic or patronising edge to it. The inference with "You are quite the busy lady" is not that there might be no other ladies that are busy, but that being busy has become part of your fabric, and (because "lady" is mentioned) part of your womanhood. Because of this, many people might find this patronising or even offensive. It's a very subtle thing, but I would certainly avoid even using the word "lady" in this sentence unless I was talking to a close friend in a playful way. Professionally and normally I would say something like "You are quite busy, aren't you?" Hope that helps!
6 tháng 10 năm 2018
You are quite a busy lady.
6 tháng 10 năm 2018
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Kate
Kỹ năng ngôn ngữ
Tiếng Bê-la-rút, Tiếng Trung Quốc (Quan thoại), Tiếng Anh, Tiếng Đức, Tiếng Ba Lan, Tiếng Nga, Tiếng Tây Ban Nha
Ngôn ngữ đang học
Tiếng Trung Quốc (Quan thoại), Tiếng Anh, Tiếng Đức, Tiếng Ba Lan, Tiếng Tây Ban Nha