mother's sister's brother

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

My mother’s sister’s husband is my ‘uncle’. But is his brother also my ‘uncle’? Or is he a ‘step uncle’ or maybe ‘an uncle once removed’?

I guess I could say ‘my mother’s sister’s husband’, but that is a mouthful…

Many thanks.

2

Your uncle’s brother is not your uncle… he is your uncle’s brother! (which is not such a mouthful as your mother’s sister’s husband’s brother.)

If you are a close-knit family, of course, there is nothing to stop you referring to your uncle’s brother as your uncle, even though he would not be considered as such legally.

I have many aunties and uncles who are not really my aunties and uncles. I am also known as Auntie to several children to whom I am not related at all.

3

Hello, Beeesneees:

I often observe that many English grammar books say ‘many’ is mainly used in negative sentences and questions. When it is used in affirmative sentences, it sounds slightly formal then. Is it true?

  Thanks.
4

Well, it possibly sounds more formal than the only viable alternative which immediately springs to mind, which would be ‘a lot of’, but it’s not overly formal and can be used informally (as I did.)