Question about the English expressions

[chickie]

Hiya everyone
I'd like to ask a question. As I couldn't find a proper thread, I'm starting a new thread. If there's been already a thread like this, please let me know.

I found this sentence in Mitch Albom's "Tuesdays with Morrie":
"Charlotte had a million thoughts running through her mind: How much time do we have left? How will we manage? How will we pay the bills?"

I'm just wondering about the underlined sentence.
Can I say "How much time left do we have"?
Or, "left" should be used at the end of the sentence like this?

[solittletime]

"left" is generally put at the end of a sentence (that is if you're using it as "all that is left" - as in, remaining. Left is also a direction, and that can be used anywhere in a sentence... like for instance "turn left at the next stop", if you're giving directions).

Don't ask me why left is only used at the end of a sentence, I don't know why... I've never heard anybody say "How much time left do we have?" though, so I presume it's incorrect. People would still be able to understand you if you said "How much time left do we have?", but it'd sound like you're stumbling over your words!!

[Mars Man]

Well, just to kind pop in here. Yes, I agree with above suggestion of it coming at the end of the sentence. I'd argue that the reason is because of the focus on 'time' alone, rather than a clause 'time left'.

At the same time, as far as I know, it could be said that that's just the style which usage has fixed. There could be other styles too, such as: How much time left is there? (perhaps very uncommon in daily usage?) How much time is left?. And the word 'remaining' can of course be used.

I also agree with the above suggestion that the word order possiblity asked about is fair enough--but simply uncommon.

[chickie]

Thx a lot for your explanation, solittletime-san & Mars Man-san
This question's bothered me for a while, so I'm glad that it's solved

[Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by chickie

Thx a lot for your explanation, solittletime-san & Mars Man-san
This question's bothered me for a while, so I'm glad that it's solved

I used to make the same mistake in Japanese of saying something like

Jikan wo dono gurai nokotte imasuka? instead of "Nokori (no) jikan.

And I can't logically reason through the English grammar except that it sounds a lot better to me as part of a phrase (the time left that you have....)
to do something than as a question where the verbs need to be together in the final position.

[Steve Ototo]

English is the child of the marriage of German and French, created 1000 years ago. The Germans and French never got along well, and English is a constant battle between the two parents.

The Germans gave us the odd habit of putting a verb with a preposition. They sometimes stick the two together: out+reach = outreach. Sometimes this odd word is a noun when stuck together - outreach. Sometimes it is used as a verb - "I tried to reach out to him."
As a native English speaker, this is a little confusing. Trying to learn where to put the modifier must be very hard - I do not even know if there are proper rules in grammar.

[chickie]

Thank you very much for your reply Elizabeth-san and Steve Ototo-san!
Elizabeth-san, I just hope someday my English will be as good as your Japanese

[jRus]

Haha I hope my spanish and german will be as good as your english. Also can anyone help me? My school does not offer us Japanese >_< So does anyone know where I can learn it? Perhaps online or something like that? Thanks ^_^

[Mike Cash]

Here "left" means "remaining".

If I start the day with 1000 yen in my pocket. Then buy two onigiri and a can of coffee (330 yen total), I have 670 yen left.

In that case, I can say:

1. I have 670 yen left.
2. I have 670 yen remaining.

They are identical in meaning.