ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: do little more than

Tuongvan — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 01:34:26 GMT

Thank you Califjim and Doll very much.I understand now.

Re: do little more than

CalifJim — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 17:43:08 GMT

Tuongvan
The improved road system did little to decrease the accident rate

The improved road system did not do very much to make the number of accidents become less than before. The road system was not very effective at reducing the number of accidents.

Tuongvan
Hugo Chavez, once a key mediator in securing hostage releases from Colombian rebels, could do little more than phone congratulations to President Alvaro Uribe after this week's bold rescue.

Hugo Chavez was not able to do much more than congratulate Uribe by phone. He had to be satisfied with making the phone call. There was almost nothing more he would have been able to do.

Re: do little more than

Doll — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:20:27 GMT

My try:

1/The improved road system did little to decrease the accident rate.

This sentence means the improved road system didn't do much to decrease the accident rate. Also we can say that the accident rate wasn't decreased much despite the improved road system or we can say that the accident rate was almost same despite the improved road system.

2/ BOGOTA, Colombia - Hugo Chavez, once a key mediator in securing hostage releases from Colombian rebels, could do little more than phone congratulations to President Alvaro Uribe after this week's bold rescue.

This sentence I sense that the writer is a bit dissappointed by the endeavours by Hugo Chavez. He/she says that he could try to to do more things, he could work more, he could change more things than just to phone to President A.U. to congratulate him.

I hope you I can help you with at least one of my sentences.

do little more than

Tuongvan — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:00:45 GMT

Hi teachers ,
Please help me understand the phrases in bold type below:

1/The improved road system did little to decrease the accident rate

2/ BOGOTA, Colombia - Hugo Chavez, once a key mediator in securing hostage releases from Colombian rebels, could do little more than phone congratulations to President Alvaro Uribe after this week's bold rescue.

Thank you in advance