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Azz Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

All of us

a. He can play against all of us
b. He can beat all of us.
c. He can fight all of us.

Are these sentences ambiguous?

MEANING 1: He can play against/ beat/fight each of us separately.
MEANING2: He can play against/ beat/fight all of us together.

Many thanks.
  

Top answer

azz Are these sentences ambiguous? No. #1 would use 'any'.

— Mister Micawber

  • azz Are these sentences ambiguous?
  • No.
  • #1 would use 'any'.
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4 Answers
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azzAre these sentences ambiguous?
No. #1 would use 'any'.
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Thank you very much,

How about:

c. He can beat every one of us.
d. He can beat each of us.

My feeling is that (d) they have meaning 1. Is that correct?

Many t
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azzMy feeling is that (d) they have meaning 1. Is that correct?
That is my feeling, too.
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"He can beat any of us" means that he can best us one at a time.

"He can beat all of us" might mean that he an best the group, one against many, as when a chess grandmaster plays may opponents simultaneously.
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