I have a question about English?

Question

HI. I am learning English right now. I got a quetion while I was watching a drama called "The war at home"
Let me put down the converstion between two chracters.

A:and as I recall, you were a pretty fast learner.

B:yeah, well, when the whole thing last a minute and a half you have to learn fast.

What the hell does "the whole thing last a minute and a half" means? It's a kind of idiom or what?
I think it doesn't grammtically make sense at all.
Please help me out.. English is really...difficutl for me to learn by myself.

Answer 1

I am not familiar with that piece of literature, but it suggests to me that the character had to figure out how to solve a problem, but only had a minute and a half to do so before some disaster happens. I would have to see it in context to help you better. Also, the word should be "lasts," not "last."

Answer 2

It means: the whole thing = all of it, the entire thing

lasts a minute and a half = duration, the amount of

time used



It is grammatically correct [should be an "s" at the end of the word last]. Last means not only the opposite of first, but as a verb means "to endure, to take a long time to end..."



English is indeed a difficult language to learn, but you seem to have done a very good job indeed.

Answer 3

Yes... English is one of the most difficult languages to learn. I admire you for your hard to to learn it.



In the United States we make all of our sentences short by cutting off important words. We understand the new meanings, but someone who doesn't have a grasp on the language and the culture will have a difficult time understanding what we are saying to each other. This happens in other languages too. But I think English, especially the U.S. English does so more.



"the whole thing last a minute and a half" means that he did not have time to think. The "lesson" was very short, so he "learned" very quickly. It is not a true statement. He did not "learn" but "reacted" to what was happening to him.



I do hope that this helps. If you want further description, or have questions for me, please let me know.

Answer 4

Not enough of the conversation to be sure, but I will say something like this:



"Go clean your room and don't be up there for a year." I don't mean a literal year, I mean don't take forever. That is probably what the scene meant. Something was very short.



Another example...I go to the movies, pay for popcorn, soda, tickets, candy and dinner afterward. But it's a children's movie, so rather than being 2 to 3 hours, it's a 90 min movie. I might say "All that money for a movie that was like a minute and half long!"

Answer 5

The "thing" can be anything ie a song....So The whole thing lasted a minute an a half = The entire song lasted 90 seconds. It can be difficult to explain english phrases because one phrase CAN mean loads of different THINGS

Answer 6

It means a minute and 30 seconds. It is an idiom or closer to a figure of speech. Just means you have to learn fast when things happen so quickly.

Answer 7

Sounds like your problem is the word "last." In case you haven't figured it out from the other answers, it's being used as a verb here. (Since "the whole thing" is singular, it should be "lasts.")



The verb last has nothing to do with the usual word last. Instead it means "to go on for a certain amount of time"--in this case 90 seconds.

Answer 8

literally...



"the whole thing" = the entire event



"lasts a minute and a half" = went on for ninety seconds...



figuratively...



the event was so short in length that it felt or seemed like only a minute and a half passed...

Answer 9

It means it lasted 90 seconds fooooooool

Answer 10

They are talking about sex. It only lasted a minute and a half.

Answer 11

that mean since it was short it was not hard to learn

Answer 12

if i ever watched that drama i definetely solve ur querry.

Answer 13

Your are too young for the adult answer.