but at last

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Vincent Teo

#533978 Sun, 29 Jun 08 03:34 AM

Can I say,

(a) John felt frightened, but at last, he plucked up some courage and ran to call the police to make a report.
(b) John felt frightened but he plucked up some courage to run to the police station.

Vincent Teo

Joined on Sat, Mar 31 2007

Senior Member (3,896)

26TMNTJG2PG

#534001 Sun, 29 Jun 08 04:46 AM

Yes but there is a slight difference in meaning:

(a) The action of running has begun.

(b) The action of running has yet to begin.

26TMNTJG2PG

Joined on Wed, Apr 23 2008

Full Member (266)

New2grammar

#534059 Sun, 29 Jun 08 08:15 AM

Sorry to interrupt.
Is pluck up courage equal to muster courage?

New2grammar

Joined on Tue, Nov 21 2006

Veteran Member (7,670)

Who wants to go sailing around the world with me?

Tanit

#534077 Sun, 29 Jun 08 09:23 AM

Hi,

Cambridge dictionary

pluck up your courage (ALSO pluck up (the) courage to do sth) INFORMAL
to force yourself to be brave enough to do something, although you are frightened or anxious about it:
He finally plucked up courage to ask her to marry him.
I'd love to do a parachute jump, but I can't pluck up the/enough courage.

Tanit

Joined on Mon, Jul 31 2006

In the middle of the Mediterranean Sea

Senior Member (2,139)

A man can do only what he can do. But if he does that each day he can sleep at night and do it again the next day. (A. Schweitzer)