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Azz Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
Did not go out so that you would be happy
a. I did not go out to make you happy.
b. I did not go out so that you would be happy.
c. I did not go out in order to make you happy.
d. I did not go out for you to be happy.
Aren't all these sentences ambiguous.
First meaning
I did go out but my intention was not making you happy.
Second meaning
In order to make happy, I did not go out.
Would a comma after 'out' help?
Many thanks.
b. I did not go out so that you would be happy.
c. I did not go out in order to make you happy.
d. I did not go out for you to be happy.
Aren't all these sentences ambiguous.
First meaning
I did go out but my intention was not making you happy.
Second meaning
In order to make happy, I did not go out.
Would a comma after 'out' help?
Many thanks.
Top answer
I find the second meaning a strain for all of these. I don't like a comma after "out" either. If you want the second meaning then reorder it as in your "Second meaning" paraphrase.
- I find the second meaning a strain for all of these.
- I don't like a comma after "out" either.
- If you want the second meaning then reorder it as in your "Second meaning" paraphrase.
- "
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1 Answers
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I find the second meaning a strain for all of these. I don't like a comma after "out" either. If you want the second meaning then reorder it as in your "Second meaning" paraphrase. To be sure of no ambiguity in the first meaning, you can say, for example, "My reason for going out was not to make you happy."
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