Park sang joon Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
The analyses of a text #2
The narrator recalls his adolescence.
He is beginning a new life as an apprentice in Doctors' Commons at London.
The narrator's best friend Steerforth and his Oxford friends came over to the narrator's apartment to dinner.
They are drinking the wine after dinner, talking about private things.
Grainger and Markham are Steerforht's Oxford friends.
........................................
Somebody said to me, "Let us go to the theatre, Copperfield!" There was no bedroom before me, but again the jingling table covered with glasses, the lamp, Grainger on my right hand, Markham on my left, and Steerforth opposite?all sitting in a mist, and a long way off. The theatre? To be sure. The very thing. Come along! But they must excuse me if I saw everybody out first, and turned the lamp off?in case of fire.
Owing to some confusion in the dark, the door was gone. I was feeling for it in the window-curtains, when Steerforth, laughing, took me by the arm and led me out. We went downstairs, one behind another. Near the bottom, somebody fell, and rolled down. Somebody else said it was Copperfield. I was angry at that false report, until, finding myself on my back in the passage, I began to think there might be some foundation for it.
[David Copperfield by Charles Dickens]
1. I'd like to know what "a long way off" means.
2. I'd like to know if "must" is the past form of "must."
3. I'd like to what "foundation" means here.
4. And I'd like to know what "it" refers to.
Thank you in advance for your help.
He is beginning a new life as an apprentice in Doctors' Commons at London.
The narrator's best friend Steerforth and his Oxford friends came over to the narrator's apartment to dinner.
They are drinking the wine after dinner, talking about private things.
Grainger and Markham are Steerforht's Oxford friends.
........................................
Somebody said to me, "Let us go to the theatre, Copperfield!" There was no bedroom before me, but again the jingling table covered with glasses, the lamp, Grainger on my right hand, Markham on my left, and Steerforth opposite?all sitting in a mist, and a long way off. The theatre? To be sure. The very thing. Come along! But they must excuse me if I saw everybody out first, and turned the lamp off?in case of fire.
Owing to some confusion in the dark, the door was gone. I was feeling for it in the window-curtains, when Steerforth, laughing, took me by the arm and led me out. We went downstairs, one behind another. Near the bottom, somebody fell, and rolled down. Somebody else said it was Copperfield. I was angry at that false report, until, finding myself on my back in the passage, I began to think there might be some foundation for it.
[David Copperfield by Charles Dickens]
1. I'd like to know what "a long way off" means.
2. I'd like to know if "must" is the past form of "must."
3. I'd like to what "foundation" means here.
4. And I'd like to know what "it" refers to.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Top answer
park sang joon 1. I'd like to know what "a long way off" means. far away Those that Copperfield was looking at seemed to be in a mist and far away.
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park sang joon1. I'd like to know what "a long way off" means.far away
Those that Copperfield was looking at seemed to be in a mist and far away. He was beginning to feel the effects of the wine.
park sang joon2. I'd like to know if "must" is the past form of "must."No. It is more like a form with "would". This
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Thank you, CalifJim, for your so very helpful answer. 
They [must / would hav
They [must / would hav
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park sang joonAnd I was wondering whether "if" means "though" here.No. Not at all. I think you are missing the meaning of something here.
"to see someone out" is to walk with them to the door as they leave. Maybe that's the problem?
Or maybe it's the use of "if" when it is not truly a precondition for the action in the main clause?
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Thank you, CalifJim, for your continuing support.
I think "if" is not used either a conditional or a concessive clause, judging
I think "if" is not used either a conditional or a concessive clause, judging
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park sang joonI think "if" is not used either a conditional or a concessive clause, judging from your explanation.Maybe it's a little like both.
If I say something rude, please forgive me. / Forgive me if I say something rude. / You must forgive me if I say something rude.
Do you have any trouble understanding "if" in those sentence
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