Park sang joon Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
The analyses of a text #2
The narrator recalls his adolescence.
He is an apprentice for the lawyer Mr. Spenlow.
His grand aunt and her best friend came to London after her going bankrupt.
He visited Doctor Strong's house in Highgate, to get the job of secretary for him, who was the head master of the school the protagonist went to.
'~You are qualified for many good things. You have laid a foundation that any edifice may be raised upon; and is it not a pity that you should devote the spring-time of your life to such a poor pursuit as I can offer?'
I became very glowing again, and, expressing myself in a rhapsodical style, I am afraid, urged my request strongly; reminding the Doctor that I had already a profession.
'Well, well,' said the Doctor, 'that's true. Certainly, your having a profession, and being actually engaged in studying it, makes a difference. But, my good young friend, what's seventy pounds a year?'
'It doubles our income, Doctor Strong,' said I.
'Dear me!' replied the Doctor. 'To think of that! Not that I mean to say it's rigidly limited to seventy pounds a-year, because I have always contemplated making any young friend I might thus employ, a present too. Undoubtedly,' said the Doctor, still walking me up and down with his hand on my shoulder. 'I have always taken an annual present into account.'
[David Copperfield by Charles Dickens]
1. I'd like to know if "I am afraid" means "because I am afraid."
2. I'd like to know why it is "what's seventy pounds a year?", not "what about seventy pounds a year?".
3. And I'd like to know if a present means a bonus.
Thank you in advance for your help.
He is an apprentice for the lawyer Mr. Spenlow.
His grand aunt and her best friend came to London after her going bankrupt.
He visited Doctor Strong's house in Highgate, to get the job of secretary for him, who was the head master of the school the protagonist went to.
'~You are qualified for many good things. You have laid a foundation that any edifice may be raised upon; and is it not a pity that you should devote the spring-time of your life to such a poor pursuit as I can offer?'
I became very glowing again, and, expressing myself in a rhapsodical style, I am afraid, urged my request strongly; reminding the Doctor that I had already a profession.
'Well, well,' said the Doctor, 'that's true. Certainly, your having a profession, and being actually engaged in studying it, makes a difference. But, my good young friend, what's seventy pounds a year?'
'It doubles our income, Doctor Strong,' said I.
'Dear me!' replied the Doctor. 'To think of that! Not that I mean to say it's rigidly limited to seventy pounds a-year, because I have always contemplated making any young friend I might thus employ, a present too. Undoubtedly,' said the Doctor, still walking me up and down with his hand on my shoulder. 'I have always taken an annual present into account.'
[David Copperfield by Charles Dickens]
1. I'd like to know if "I am afraid" means "because I am afraid."
2. I'd like to know why it is "what's seventy pounds a year?", not "what about seventy pounds a year?".
3. And I'd like to know if a present means a bonus.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Top answer
park sang joon 1. " No. This is a common idiom in English.
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park sang joon1. I'd like to know if "I am afraid" means "because I am afraid."No. This is a common idiom in English.
I'm afraid that ... = I regret to say that ...
Fear is not involved.
park sang joon2. I'd like to know why it is "what's seventy pounds a year?", not "what about seventy pounds a year?".
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Thank you, CalifJim, for your so very helpful answer. 
And I was wondering why it is "I am afraid," not "I was afraid."
And I was wondering why it is "I am afraid," not "I was afraid."
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park sang joonAnd I was wondering why it is "I am afraid," not "I was afraid."We've seen one of these before. Remember that the author is writing about himself. He tells the story of what happened in the past, and at the same time he occasionally makes a comment in the present, i.e., as an author who is now writing the story. He "regrets to say" now
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