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This is a definition of the verb "inundate".

to give or send somebody so many things that they cannot deal with them all

I wonder if I can paraphrase it to

to give or send somebody to the extent that they cannot deal with them all

or

to give or send somebody such that they cannot deal with them all

In their usages, I think "so...that" and "such that" both can be used more flexibly in a sentence compared with to the extent that. do they all interchangeable when the sentence behind the phrase comes to describing result or degree?

pheno8
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1 Answers1

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No, you can't, because give somebody and send somebody do not mean the same as give/send somebody things. You need a word for them all to refer to.

The literal meaning of inundate is flood.

Kate Bunting
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  • I really appreciate all of your answers. it helps me a lot all the time. if I say "to give or send somebody things to the extent that they cannot deal with them all" or to give or send somebody things such that they cannot deal with them all" instead of the original one, would there be any semantic difference? – pheno8 Feb 08 '21 at 10:41
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    Such that doesn't necessarily imply quantity; it could mean things of a kind that... I still think the original version is best. However, if you use an uncountable noun instead of things you could say to give somebody work to the extent that they cannot deal with it all. – Kate Bunting Feb 08 '21 at 13:15
  • when we make sentences using so...that/such that/to the extent that like above, even if their structures are different, do they mean the same in meaning? they're translated into my first language as if they have the similar meaning. If so, is it a personal preference? – pheno8 Feb 09 '21 at 14:00
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    So many that has to be used with countable nouns - it means such a large number. So much that refers to a large quantity, or a great degree, of something. To the extent that (implying a great extent) is similar. As I said, such that can mean of a kind that, not necessarily referring to quantity. – Kate Bunting Feb 09 '21 at 14:56