BentleyJunkie  +  100215 Mon, 16 May 05 08:23 PM which makes sense...or are both ok? Thanks in advanced. BentleyJunkie Joined on Mon, May 16 2005 New Member 01

	temico  +  100267 Tue, 17 May 05 12:31 AM That would depend on how you use the expressions. e.g. a) His presence at the meeting WASN'T OF MUCH HELP. b) He WASN'T MUCH HELP---(much) more a nuisance, actually!! temico Joined on Thu, Apr 21 2005 Full Member 274

	ranchhand  +  100287 Tue, 17 May 05 01:53 AM That would depend on how you use the expressions. e.g. a) His presence at the meeting WASN'T OF MUCH HELP. b) He WASN'T MUCH HELP---(much) more a nuisance, actually!! ============== I'm not sure it makes much difference, Temico, how you use the expressions, though I could be mistaken. It seems that the one with 'of' is of a more formal nature. ranchhand Joined on Sun, May 15 2005 Junior Member 81

	temico  +  100501 Tue, 17 May 05 02:25 PM To ranchhand, The difference:- a) His presence at the meeting WASN'T OF MUCH HELP. = His presence at the meeting was helpful but not worth mentioning. b) He WASN'T MUCH HELP---(much) more a nuisance, actually!! = He was actually more a nuisance than he was a source of help. temico

	ranchhand  +  100513 Tue, 17 May 05 03:22 PM Some people are of the opinion that repeating things makes them true. I'm of a mind that that really isn't of much help, Temico. ranchhand

	abbie1948  +  100549 Tue, 17 May 05 05:03 PM His presence at the meeting WASN'T OF MUCH HELP. This does not mean His presence at the meeting was helpful but not worth mentioning. If it was "helpful but not worth mentioning", why mention it at all? "much" means a large amount or to a large degree. "not much" means rather more than the simple opposite. In fact it means "hardly at all" Temico: "Do you like burgers?" Abbie: "Not much" (I'd rather starve than eat one) "I don't think there's much to be gained in him coming to the meeting" means "I don't think there is anything to be gained ...." "He wasn't much help" "He really wasn't very helpful at all" abbie1948 Joined on Thu, Mar 24 2005 England Senior Member 2,657 Hope that helps. Abbie

	temico  +  100574 Tue, 17 May 05 06:09 PM Abbie: Do you like English draught beer? Temico: i) Uugggh! I rather drink water! ii) Not much. Since there's no other choice, I'll put up with half a pint. Other than casting his vote at the end of the meeting, not much was gained from his coming to the meeting. ( All we gained was his vote ) temico

	anita_a  +  100600 Tue, 17 May 05 07:57 PM I think that in both sentences it is the same phrase that should be used. "wasn't much help" is wrong. It has to be 'Wasn't of much help'. Though the sentences are different, the phrase means the same. anita_a Joined on Tue, Jul 27 2004 Sunny California Regular Member 822 Cheers,Anita

	temico  +  100644 Wed, 18 May 05 12:02 AM anita a, To "think" of something and to "prove" it is just like "thinking of having a baby" and actually "giving birth to one"----always easier said than done, don't you think?? temico