[title]Family quotes[/title] [description]Welcome to our family quotes section! Here you'll find some of the funniest (and wisest) quotes on the subject of family life![/description]
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Latest post Fri, Sep 4 2009 10:22 PM by Anonymous. 3 replies.
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Anonymous  +  885906 Fri, 04 Sep 09 04:09 AM
Dear Experts,


Do you have a family?
Do you have family?


When you ask someone whether he/she has a family or not, which of the above is correct to use? Considering "family" could be:
1. family that hi/she's born in, with a mother and father,  brothers and sisters
2. family of his/her own, with a husband[wife] and kids of his/her own if any


Also,
I have no family.
Can this be used for both types of families mention here?


Thank you.

CalifJim  +  885910 Fri, 04 Sep 09 04:17 AM
No matter which definition you use (1 or 2), you can use either of those questions.  Note that the second one is more informal, however.


I have no family can be used as the answer to either question for either definition.


CJ

Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004
California
Veteran Member 22,447
"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche
Clive  +  885926 Fri, 04 Sep 09 04:25 AM
Hi,

Sometimes there can be some confusion between the two kinds of family that you discuss below.

What you say tends to depend on who you are talking to, and on the context.

We usually don't ask a child these things, as we assume they are part of a family.

 

Do you have a family?  Often means 'Are you marriedz? Do you have children?' But if I know you are married, it would just mean 'Do you have children?'
Do you have family? Everybody has family somewhere, maybe alive, maybe dead. So, we usually say 'Do you have family in Montreal?' 'Do you have family here?' etc. We are referring to the larger definition of family, eg uncles/aunts etc. Ths is often called the 'extended family'.


When you ask someone whether he/she has a family or not, which of the above is correct to use? Considering "family" could be:
1. family that hi/she's born in, with a mother and father,  brothers and sisters
2. family of his/her own, with a husband[wife] and kids of his/her own if any


Also,
I have no family.
Can this be used for both types of families mention here? Yes. The context usually makes it clear what kind of family you mean.

But you'd typically say it another way, eg 'I have no children'. eg I'm not married'.  eg 'I live alone'. eg 'My parents are dead'.

 

Best wishes, Clive

Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004
Canada
Veteran Member 29,657
El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo
Anonymous, 81 days ago
Thank you.
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