Thursday, March 25, 2010

Does it make a difference?

Yes, little expressions like this one do make a difference. (And you should learn how to use auxiliary verbs in this way - more on this in class). A native speaker would use this expression fairly often, but I seldom hear my students using it. It means "help" a situation in some way. For instance: "If you're looking for a job, having the PCE qualification can make a difference."
Similarly, "makes no difference" or "doesn't make any difference" have the opposite meaning, eg. It makes no difference who wins the elections. (Being cynical, again - sorry).

1 comment:

  1. In the negative, the expression is often followed by the word "whether," for instance: if you want to learn a language it makes no difference whether you're a man or a woman. (Actually, some studies say women have an edge over men in this area. Do you agree?)

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