English Diary 2026
☆ March 15 I hadn't seen gasoline this expensive for a while. So I only put in a small amount. I'll wait until prices start to stabilize. Look before you leap. * The phrase "gasoline this expensive" uses a structure where an adjective phrase comes after the noun. This is sometimes called a postpositive adjective structure. In the sentence: I hadn't seen gasoline this expensive for a while. the phrase this expensive describes gasoline. The full form would be: I hadn't seen gasoline that was this expensive for a while. Here, this functions as a degree modifier, meaning "to this extent" or "so." So this expensive means: "so expensive" or "as expensive as this." Similar examples Native speakers often use this structure in everyday English: coffee this good → coffee that is this good weather this cold → weather that is this cold a problem this serious → a problem that is this serious a car this fast → a car that is this fast...