ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: happy coincidence

MarvinTheMartian — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:34:00 GMT

MarvinTheMartian
Hopefully, someone will read this thread and correct BOTH our examples.

Well, anyone up to the challenge? I give up...

Re: happy coincidence

MarvinTheMartian — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 23:29:11 GMT

What original suggestions, Kooyen! Hopefully, someone will read this thread and correct BOTH our examples. Two days ago, I might have tried to improve yours, but right now, I'm afraid my brain is completely useless... I would only make them worse.

Re: happy coincidence

Kooyeen — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 22:07:22 GMT

a) I hate you!
b) Stop copying me! I hated you first!

a) I hate you!
b) Whoo-hoo! Now dump me, quick, I am in a hurry. Gotta go to church to thank the Lord for listening to my prayers.

a) I hate you!
b) Not today! I wanted to take you out for dinner! You can't refuse, I already arranged everything, and already paid the guy who is expected to run you over in front of the restaurant.

a) I hate you!
b) Aw, come on. There are bigger problems now. I think I left the gas open in the kitchen... Can you go there and turn on the light to check?

Ok, that was tough. It was difficult, more difficult than Tanit's tests, CAE, CPE, TOEFL, whatever.

Re: happy coincidence

MarvinTheMartian — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 22:01:09 GMT

Philip
As a sarcastic note, you might use what is usually a polite response: likewise, I'm sure.

Thanks, I already thought of that one. What about my sentences? Are they salvageable at all? As I said earlier, I'm trying to come up with a way to emphasize the "pleasant coincidence" aspect.

Re: happy coincidence

Philip — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:38:44 GMT

As a sarcastic note, you might use what is usually a polite response: likewise, I'm sure.

If you want to indicate that you don't particularly care that the person doesn't like you, you could say: Take a number and get in line.

Re: happy coincidence

MarvinTheMartian — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:21:16 GMT

optilang
Not as much as I hate you!

That's good, but I'm trying to convey the sense that the hatred being mutual is perceived as a good - even fortunate - thing. What do you think of my sentences? Would you have worded them differently?

Re: happy coincidence

optilang — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 08:16:31 GMT

Not as much as I hate you!

happy coincidence

MarvinTheMartian — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 02:28:57 GMT

Hi,

I'm trying to come up with sarcastic repartees to express mutual hatred (other than the standard: "The feeling is mutual!") Here's what I've got so far:

Character #1: "I hate you!"

Character #2: "What a happy coincidence! I hate you too!"
or: "Lucky me! I hate you too!"
or: "Thanks! Knowing this makes it that much more convenient for me to hate you!"

That last sentence didn't come out quite as well as I'd hoped. Can you help me improve it? What do you think of the other alternatives? Any suggestions? I'm running out of ideas.