Phrase: Although we may pride ourselves a great deal

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

Dear teachers,

In my class, my teacher wrote on the blackboard:

Much as we may pride ourselves on our good taste,
we are no longer free to choose the things we want. (1)

So, she continued to write:

…of our good taste, we are no longer free to choose the things we want.
a. So proud may we be
b. Although we may pride ourselves a great deal
c. Proud as we may be
d. Pride ourselves as we may

My teacher chose Proud as we may be.

1/Coul you tell me why a,b,d aren’t not correct? a,b,d are all correct in grammar?
2/In (1), why “as much”, but not “much as”?

Best regards
Tung Quoc

PS: In my class, my teacher doesn’t explain, she only gave the final answers.

2

Hi,

You asked:

My first comment is that grammar and meaning are different aspects. In other words what you write/say has to make sense.

is unfinished. You need to rewrite: We may be so proud that …

again is unfinished. You could say: Although we may pride ourselves on being accurate/on our accuracy …

is also unfinished since it lacks ‘on’

Your last point: isn’t that what your teacher in fact wrote?

Alan

3

Dear teacher,

Yes, all were written by my teacher. She took them in Developping skills by L.G. Alexander.

"

is also unfinished since it lacks ‘on’ "

1/I understood that a,b,d weren’t chosen because they’re unfinished, as you explained.

Could you rewrite all sentence with Pride ourselves as we may on…

2/ Proud as we may be of our good taste, we are no longer free to choose the things we want. (*) (The final answer that my teacher chose)

(*) is correct?

Many thanks for your response

Tung Quoc

4

Hi Quoc

1/
Pride ourselves as we may on our good taste, we are no longer free to choose the things we want.
(The word on replaces the word of)

2/
Yes, your teacher’s solution is correct.

Amy