It’s all for the best, isn’t it?

Today’s English
July 11th, 2017

1. The word All – singular or plural?
The word all is both singular and plural.  This pronoun is plural if it refers to number and countable things/ people but singular if it points out amount, quantity and the uncountable.

A. All are brilliant in my class.
B. All is well. Don’t worry. (= everything is in good state)
C. All that you have poured out is drinking water.
D. All are speaking Tamil here.

2. All in all or all in one?

All in all means “when everything is considered” but all in one refers to something that has more uses or functions.

A. All in all, the arrangement for the function is good.
B. This mobile is all in one. You can pay whatever the price is.

3. Altogether versus all together
Altogether means in total/ completely but all together is used in the sense “all in one place or all at once"

A. We can’t altogether accept his demands. (=we can’t completely…)
B. Altogether twenty-five students attended the seminar. (=in total)
C. We assembled all together to address the issue. (=assembled all in one place)
D. When the national anthem was played, we stood up all together. (= all at once)

4. Dual use of “not at all"
The phrase “not at all” is a little more stronger than no and not.  On the other hand it can be used as a polite reply to somebody’s “thanks"

A. What he says is not at all true. / she’s not at all happy (stronger than “she is not happy")
B. Thank you very much, Mr.Arun. Not at all madam. It’s my duty/ its my pleasure.

5. All for the best = best in the long run, though appears not good in the beginning

A. The more you face problems, the more you become experienced. It’s all for the best.
B. Don’t feel anything about selling this old car. It’s all for the best.

(Wife: I’m going for delivery. I’ll return from my father’s house only after six months. Will you miss me a lot?

Hubby: Yes, but it’s all for the best.

Wife:……..?)