Meaning
There is a big difference between two actions/situations.
Primary Function
Contrasting degrees of acceptability or difficulty
Communicative Purpose
To highlight that while one action may be acceptable or easy, the other is not
Pattern
It’s one thing to + INF, but it’s quite another to + INF
Core Structure
cleft pair contrasting two infinitives
Função primária
Contrasting degrees of acceptability or difficulty
Propósito comunicativo
To highlight that while one action may be acceptable or easy, the other is not
Situações de gatilho
Expressing limits, moral distinctions, challenging logic
Contextos
Conversation, argument, writing
Padrão
It’s one thing to + INF, but it’s quite another to + INF
Estrutura central
cleft pair contrasting two infinitives
Slots de substituição
two infinitive phrases
Colocados típicos
- It’s one thing to make a mistake
- but it’s quite another to try to cover it up.
Substituições comuns
- ‘It’s one thing to…
- and another to…’ (shortened)
- ‘There’s a difference between … and …’
Erros comuns
Non-parallel structures: *It’s one thing to go, but quite another staying*.
Similar / contraste
‘You can’t compare X to Y’
Interferências
None
Família do chunk
- contrastive cleft frames
Nuance
Sets a boundary; can be used to express indignation
Efeito pragmático
Strongly differentiates two degrees of wrongdoing or difficulty
Dica de memória
‘It’s one thing to … but quite another to …’
Nota
This chunk is used to emphasize the difference in degree or acceptability between two actions or situations.
Upgrade path
‘It’s one thing to criticise from the sidelines, but it’s quite another to offer a viable alternative.’
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