Newsgroup: it.cultura.linguistica.inglese
Titolo: exactly

Exactly, where exactly can I put "exactly" in a sentence, exactly?
 
-- 
Kiuhnm
 
Le femministe più moderate "beg to differ".
Le più estremiste "peg to differ".
 

 Exactly, where exactly can I put "exactly" in a sentence, exactly?
 
I think you can put it anywhere you can put "esatto" in an Italian sentence.


Do you mean "esattamente"?


 Do you mean "esattamente"?
 
Aren't esattamente and esatto both adverbs and are typically translated 
as "exactly?" As I think about it, there are places where I'd use esatto 
and others where I'd use esattamente, but I have never thought about why.
 
OK, I just did a search and esatto is an adjective. but I know at times 
it is used like an adverb would be used in English. Maybe I shouldn't 
have tried to answer your question, because I seem to be lacking in 
certain information here.
 

 it is used like an adverb would be used in English.
 
Yes, but when we answer a question with "esatto" we mean "what you said 
is exact". You answer with "exactly" which, I guess, is short for "It's 
exactly as you said" or something like that.


 Exactly, where exactly can I put "exactly" in a sentence, exactly?
 
Quale frase ti suscita il dubbio, esattamente?
 
-- 
IdP
 
 
"A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting 
on its shoes." (Mark Twain)

 Quale frase ti suscita il dubbio, esattamente?
 
Exactly, what do you do?    [sounds good]
What exactly do you do?     [good]
What do you do exactly?     [... and approximately?]
What do you do, exactly?    [that's better]
What do you exactly do?	    [doesn't sound right]


 What do you exactly do?        [doesn't sound right]
 
You seem to understand the usage well. The last example does sounds 
somewhat awkward, but in the wonderful, tolerant expanse, and fullness 
of the English language, it is acceptable.


OK, thanks!



So, he was correct in all respects. He nailed it. He was right on the 
money. In other words, he was exactly right! What he said was 
completely accurate. Spot on, like the Brits say. Bang on!  :D
 
-- 
IdP
 
 
"A clear conscience is the sure sign of a bad memory." (Mark Twain)

 What do you exactly do?
 
Why exactly should this sentence sound wrong?
 
-- 
Et interrogabant eum turbae dicentes: “Quid ergo faciemus?”.
Respondens autem dicebat illis: “Qui habet duas tunicas,
det non habenti; et, qui habet escas, similiter faciat”.
(Ev. sec. Lucam 3,10-11)
 
-- 
Questa email è stata esaminata alla ricerca di virus da AVG.
http://www.avg.com
 
 

 Why exactly should this sentence sound wrong?
 
Per essere esatti, non ho scritto io la frase che mi attribuisci nel 
quoting.
 
-- 
IdP
 
 
"Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds." (William 
Shakespeare)

 Why exactly should this sentence sound wrong?
 
Because the sentence "What do you exactly do?" has low probability in 
the model learned and used by English speakers.


 What do you exactly do?	    [doesn't sound right]
 
 
Gli esempi che trovo sui dizionari mi paiono confermare la tua 
impressione.
 
What exactly did he say?
Where exactly do you live?
When exactly are they supposed to arrive?
Exactly how do you propose to achieve this?
What exactly do you mean?
Exactly what are you looking for?
 
 
Secondo le note d'uso di alcuni dizionari, inoltre, "exactly" non solo 
serve a chiedere chiarimenti sugli esatti dettagli di qualcosa, ma può 
aggiungere enfasi alla domanda e anche esprimere disapprovazione (cosa, 
fra parentesi, che può accadere anche in italiano, in certi contesti).
 
 
Macmillan
used for asking someone for more details about something
What exactly did he say?
Where exactly do you live?
 
 
Merriam-Webster Learner's
— used to stress that something is accurate, complete, or correct
...
    When exactly are they supposed to arrive? = Exactly when are they 
supposed to arrive?
 
 
Cambridge
used to emphasize what you are saying:
...
Exactly how do you propose to achieve this?
What exactly do you mean?
 
 
Collins
You use exactly with a question to show that you disapprove of what the 
person you are talking to is doing or saying.
[disapproval]
What exactly do you mean?
Exactly what are you looking for?
 
-- 
IdP
 
 
"Fabbricare fabbricare fabbricare / Preferisco il rumore del mare" 
(Dino Campana)