Tuongvan  +  682578 Tue, 03 Mar 09 11:31 PM Dear teachers, Can I say these? She is worth to be pitied rather than to be contempted/hated She deserves to be pitied rather than to be contempted/hated She deserves pity rather tan contempt/hate She is more pitiful than hateful Thank you in advance Tuongvan Joined on Sun, Dec 30 2007 Regular Member 975 van

	RayH  +  682586 Tue, 03 Mar 09 11:40 PM She is worth to be pitied rather than to be contempted/hated    "Contempted" isn't a word. She deserves to be pitied rather than to be contempted/hated She deserves pity rather tan contempt/hate    OK She is more pitiful than hateful    OK. You could also say "contemptible" here. RayH Joined on Sat, Mar 22 2008 Contributing Member 1,555 Native speaker of U. S. English. Not a grammar expert.

	Grammar Geek  +  682660 Wed, 04 Mar 09 03:35 AM Yes, but that implies she does deserve at least a bit of contempt. She deserves pity more than contempt means "Don't hold her contempt; pity her." Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 19,681 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random!