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Grandparents

britdam007

britdam007

India

Mason:  I have one remaining set of grandparents…....


Here I don’t understand what does he mean by one set of grandparents? As far as I know grandparents means grandma and grandfather and grandparent means either grandma or grandmother?

12:08 PM Feb 07 2013 |

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Teacher AmySuper Member!

United States

Typically, a “set of grandparents” refers to either your mother’s parents or your father’s parents, i.e. your grandmother and grandfather on either your mother’s or your father’s side. So if you have only one remaining set of grandparents, either both or one of one of your parent’s parents has died.


Make sense?


Best,


Amy

11:13 PM Feb 07 2013 |

britdam007

britdam007

India

Yes, but Mason didn’t mention about his grandfather in the dialogue. He only mentioned about his grandmother. I don’t understand?

04:18 AM Feb 08 2013 |

Teacher AmySuper Member!

United States

Which lesson does this come from? Let me know and I’ll look into it.

09:55 PM Feb 09 2013 |

britdam007

britdam007

India

Amy:  Do your grandparents live close to you, Mason?


Mason:  I have one remaining set of grandparents, and yes she does live close to here, so I actually saw her last weekend.


Amy:  Nice. Do you like hanging out with your grandma?



From here Mason starts talking about his grandmother only and her habits, her likings and all. So where is his grandfather? Mason doesn’t mention anything about his grandfather, if I’m not wrong? Though Mason says he has a set of grandparents but in the dialogue we only get the description about her grandmother. I still don’t understand this?

06:13 AM Feb 10 2013 |

Teacher AmySuper Member!

United States

Good catch. My best guess is that Mason used the term “set” loosely, and we was actually only referring to his grandmother. This is another example of the informality of some spoken English.


Best,


Amy

04:30 PM Feb 10 2013 |

britdam007

britdam007

India

okey-dokey. Thank you.CHEERIO

01:24 AM Feb 11 2013 |