Debate

It does not tell us; they could be either pro or con, according to your interpretation. I would read it, however, as half of the class being divided into further halves, pro and con, while the other half of the class pursued some other topic of debate.

Hi Mister Micawber,

Thank you very much for your interpretation.

Have a good day.

Tinanam

tinanam0102Half of the class debated keeping the blinds up.
Does that mean they want the blinds up?

No. Only some of them wanted the blinds up. Others wanted the blinds down. They were making their views known to one another.

(Nothing is said about what the other half of the class was doing, by the way.)

CJ

Half of the class were debating whether the blinds should stay up. That means that some were in favor, others were not and they explained their reasons.The other half of the class did not participate in the debate.

Jim

Hi CalifJim,

Thanks again for your help. I copied this from an excerise book. It does not say about the the other half.

I looked up "debate" and it is same as argue. If this sentence were to read as "Half of the class argued that the blinds should be kept up". Is this sentence same as "Half of the class debated keeping the blinds up."?

Best wishes,

Tinan

tinanam0102If this sentence were to read as "Half of the class argued that the blinds should be kept up". Is this sentence same as "Half of the class debated keeping the blinds up."?

It's a little different.

Half of the class argued (among themselves) (about) whether the blinds should be kept up.
=
Half of the class debated whether th

Hi CalifJim,

Thank you for your many examples to show the difference.

Have a great day.

Tinanam