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Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

Do these 2 sentences mean the same thing?

I would not deny but that it made me cry.

I would not deny that contrary to expectation it made me cry.

Are these sentences correct?

Moreover, do they mean the same thing?

Thank you in advance.
  

Top answer

The first one sounds very nonstandard, but perhaps a bit literary and old-fashioned. " The second is okay, but requires commas to set off "contrary to expections" (expectations in the plural sounds better to me). I would not deny that i made me cry, although that was not what I had expected.

— BarbaraPA

  • The first one sounds very nonstandard, but perhaps a bit literary and old-fashioned.
  • " The second is okay, but requires commas to set off "contrary to expections" (expectations in the plural sounds better to me).
  • I would not deny that i made me cry, although that was not what I had expected.
  • It's rather stilted English.
  • Much to my surprise, it made me cry sounds more natural to me.
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4 Answers
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The first one sounds very nonstandard, but perhaps a bit literary and old-fashioned. If I heard this, I'd say "Huh?"

The second is okay, but requires commas to set off "contrary to expections" (expectations in the plural sounds better to me).

I would not deny that i made me cry, although that was not what I had expected.

It's rather stilted English. Much to my surpris
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Do you think it is correct though?

I am almost inclined to say that it is wrong.
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Grammar GeekThe first one sounds very nonstandard, but perhaps a bit literary and old-fashioned.
Sounds like poetry to me.
AnonymousI would not deny but that it made me cry.
This means is that you would not deny anything except that it (whatever "it" may be) made you cry.
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I heard that but means "contrary to expectation" so therefore it is not the case when I ask if these two sentences mean the same thing??

Thank you
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