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Navitasan Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

But I did not know

Is the second sentence correct:
1) One of the writers came into the room. The one who had written an important novel, but I did not know what it was.

If it is, does it imply that none of the other writers had written an important novel or that I knew what important novel they had written?
In other words, what is defining 'the one', 'who had written an important novel' or 'who had written an important novel but I did not know what it was.'?
Gratefully,
Navi.
  

Top answer

"The one" implies that the others hadn't written an important novel. Your ignorance doesn't enter into it because that's stated in a second independent clause. One of the writers came into the room, the one who had written an important novel that I didn't know about.

— Deadrat

  • "The one" implies that the others hadn't written an important novel.
  • Your ignorance doesn't enter into it because that's stated in a second independent clause.
  • One of the writers came into the room, the one who had written an important novel that I didn't know about.
  • The others either hadn't written important novels or they had and you knew about those.
  • One of the writers came into the room, the one who had written an important novel, which I didn't know about.
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2 Answers
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"The one" implies that the others hadn't written an important novel. Your ignorance doesn't enter into it because that's stated in a second independent clause.

One of the writers came into the room, the one who had written an important novel that I didn't know about.

The others either hadn't written important novels or they had and you knew about those.
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Brilliant! I couldn't have hoped for a better reply. You are extremely thorough.

I couldn't thank you enough!

Respectfully,
Navi.
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