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Pructus Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

as well as not

"I cannot help it, I must see him to-day, and it does not make much difference; I am in no hurry, I can wait as well as not."

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as well as not....

What should this mean?
  

Top answer

= I can wait as long as necessary.

— Philip

  • = I can wait as long as necessary.
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6 Answers
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= I can wait as long as necessary.
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pructus I am in no hurry, I can wait as well as not.
It's like saying "waiting would not be a problem."

"It's immaterial to me whether I wait or not, as long as I see him today."

It's a restatement of "it does not make much difference [whether I wait or not]." (dummy "it.")

("I cannot help it" - this "it" refers to
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I see....

Thanks Philip and Avangi....
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He put the tea down himself and said we could wait awhile as well as not.

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How about this one?

Does it mean "it doesn't matter whether we wait awhile or not"?

Does it mean that we could wait, but also we didn't have to wait?
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pructusDoes it mean that we could wait, but also we didn't have to wait?
Technically, that's what it says; but the implication of the idiom is usually:
"There is no reason why we can't do X."

There's simultaneously the implication: "Let's do it!"

I really hate to bother you guys, but my car is
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Oh, what a marvellous explanation, Avangi....
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