In the following sentence, identify the signal word and describe its function:
"My father was vulnerable, however he had an air about him that led people to believe that he was invincible."
A. The word vulnerable signals that the father is invincible.
B. The word about signals that what is being said about the father is false.
C. The word however signals that the father is actually vulnerable.
D. The word however signals that the father is actually invincible.

Question

In the following sentence, identify the signal word and describe its function:
"My father was vulnerable, however he had an air about him that led people to believe that he was invincible."
 A. The word vulnerable signals that the father is invincible.
 B. The word about signals that what is being said about the father is false.
 C. The word however signals that the father is actually vulnerable.
 D. The word however signals that the father is actually invincible.

kittybasil · Answer

The idea of using however usually intends to portray a direct contrast between two situations. Given situations A and B, and the phrase$$\text{"A, however B"}$$ you would usually read B as an exception to A. Here, we see that A is the father being vulnerable. But B is the impression that other people get of the father, that he is invincible. Which means that, paraphrased: 'my father was vulnerable.. but people [believed] that he was invincible' Your choice should be either C or D. But both of them use the word 'actually' ... and which of the two is the father, actually? Is he 'actually vulnerable' or 'actually invincible' ?