just as his father played the trumpet

[navi tasan]

1) As his father played the trumpet, he played the piano.
2) Just as his father played the trumpet, he played the piano.
3) Just as his father played the trumpet, so he played the piano.

Which of the above correspond to which of the below:

a) He played the pianothe same way his father played the trumpet.
b) He played the piano because his father played the trumpet.
c) He played the piano while his father played the trumpet.
d) He played the piano and his father played the trumpet.

I am not sure about this at all.

I would say
1 corresponds to 'b' and 'c'
2 corresponds to 'd'
3 corresponds to 'a'

Gratefully,
Navi.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Hi, Navi! What does your teacher say?

 

[navi tasan]

Thank you, Charlie,

I really don't have a teacher. My high school years are way behind me. These questions are too hard to be given even to advanced learners of English. I doubt that you will find any book with such questions in them.

But I did give a list of what I deemed to be correct replies in the bottom of my question, lest people should think that I have not taken a shot at answering my question.

I don't know how I can prove to you that my questions are not school exercises. Maybe the fact that I have made well over 2000 posts should suffice. How long do you think I have been in high school?

I am just obsessed with the fine points of English grammar. That's all. No teachers.

Gratefully,
Navi.

 

[navi tasan]

Thank you very much, Piscean,

Azz is actually my partner and she contracted the ambiguity bug from me. I am the main culprit.

I find my own questions annoying, to tell you the truth. If they did not annoy me, I would probably not ask them! They make me anxious almost. I have found out that some native speakers find them irritating and others find them fascinating.

I would not suggest to anyone to use them in English classes. Learners would just go nuts if they are confronted with these sentences. They seem pretty simply, but they are not. At least, that is my opinion.

Respectfully,
Navi.

 

[jutfrank]

2) could also possibly mean both he and his father started to play their respective instruments at exactly the same time.

3) could mean both in the same way (the same style of playing) and also similarly (they both had playing an instrument in common).

 

[navi tasan]

Thank you very much, Piscean,

It helps. Every little bit help. But the anxiety will live on!

Gratefully,
Navi.

 

[navi tasan]

Thank you very much, Jutfrank,

I did not see your post when I posted mine. I saw it just now.

Gratefully,
Navi.

 

[Tarheel]

Navi tasan, you are one of my favorite posters, and you have been for a long time.

As for your questions, the first one makes sense. After all, two people can certainly play two different musical instruments at the same time. However, I am not so sure about the others.

 

[navi tasan]

Thank you very much, Tarheel!

I am at a loss for words! I don't know how to respond to such a kind remark!

Respectfully and gratefully,
Navi.

 

[Tarheel]

Well, Navi, you have been on this forum for a long time. I was reading your posts before I was Tarheel (which is a "cooler" name than RonBee).

As for your questions, I think 2 and 3 could mean they played their instruments equally well.

 

[navi tasan]

Aaaah! So you are RonBee!!! I was wondering what had happened to RonBee!!! So we go back a long way!!!

So you have emigrated to a new name!! Interesting! So glad to see you are still here!!

Thank you very much, Tarheel!

Respectfully,
Navi.

 

[Tarheel]

I could not log in under my old name (a security thing).

 

[Tarheel]

I lost two posts trying to put down everything that came to mind. It's like my phone is trying to tell me something, which is: don't say too much. Or at least, don't say too much in one post.

 

[navi tasan]

Phones are getting too smart these days! They are becoming arrogant too!I call mine smarta...phone.

Respectfully,
Navi.

 

[bhaisahab]

I'm glad to see you back, Ron!

 

[Raymott]

I just can't see him playing the piano by blowing into it, the way his father played the trumpet.

 

[Tarheel]

I was thinking the same thing you were thinking, Raymott. Then I decided they could play them equally well (or equally badly). Sometimes it helps to be obsessive-compulsive.

 

[navi tasan]

Thank you very much Raymott and Tarheel,

Maybe they both played their instruments by ear, or maybe they both improvised, or maybe they both played passionately, or methodically... Or maybe they both played obsessively... or questioningly... OK... Even I wouldn't be able to do that!


Gratefully,
Navi.