3

According to dictionaries the phrase "much as" can mean either "even though" or "in a similar way". As these two meanings are almost opposite, I was wondering on the basis of what principles should one decide which definition fits better?

Improve this question

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
3

Context. You should be able to work out which is which in these sentences: 

"Much as I would like to believe you, I do not."  
"He dodged the questions much as a rabbit would dodge a pursuing fox."
Improve this answer
4
  • Thank you. The problem is that it might not always be that obvious. For example consider this sentence: "Much as I hate chocolate, I can't resist a chocolate cake!"
    – user1555
    Commented Sep 10, 2013 at 15:29
  • Well, in this case, what is your hating of chocolate similar to? Nothing. So this is meaning one: although I hate chocolate I can't resist the cake. I hate chocolate much as I hate strawberries is meaning two: I hate chocolate and I also hate strawberries.
    – BobRodes
    Commented Sep 10, 2013 at 15:37
  • Wouldn't my sentence also convey this meaning? "As much as I like chocolate cake, I hate chocolate"?
    – user1555
    Commented Sep 10, 2013 at 15:50
  • 1
    Now you're managing to run the two meanings together a little bit. This sentence is a bit ambiguous, because "as much as" can mean "much as" in the first sense or a statement of equivalence. Removing the first "as" would resolve in favor of meaning 1; changing the word order would resolve in favor of meaning 2: "I hate chocolate as much as I like chocolate cake." To say "I hate chocolate much as I like chocolate cake" wouldn't make a great deal of sense; you're saying that your hatred of chocolate and your liking of chocolate cake are similar.
    – BobRodes
    Commented Sep 10, 2013 at 16:24

You must log in to answer this question.