1. ... there was somethingdisturbingly resolute and self-important in the way he asked her...
There was something strange in (about) the way he greeted me that morning.
There was something disturbing (in) about the way the girl entered the room.
There is something special in the way she dresses on Sundays.
2. He was a stocky man with large dark eyes so intense as to suggest they were about to cross.
I think the speaker is about to conclude his speech.
I have a strange feeling that something terrible is about to happen.
The satellite launch is about to commence.
3. This was the most she had said in all the months she had lived in the house.
This was the most he had eaten in a long time.
This was the most I had heard from my family all year.
While your pupil is recovering he can only read the book.
This will be the most you can expect of him.
4. ... tuned or not the Aeolian had never made such sounds.
Clumsy or not she was a good basketball player.
Busy or not Mr Jones always finds time for his students.
Phrases and Word Combinations
to go past to suffer (no) embarrassment
(to look) right and left on the contrary
to judge one's age (to do smth) to one's satisfaction
to presume to do smth to bring to a conclusion
to regret smth to clear one's throat
to question the propriety to be knowledgeable in/about
of smth smth